EDITED  BY  F.  W.  HODGE 


A  SERIES  OF  PUBLICA- 
TIONS RELATING  TO  THE 
AMERICAN  ABORIGINES 


A  REPORT  FROM 
NATCHITOCHES  IN  1807 


BY 


DR.  JOHN  SIBLEY 


NEW  YORK 

MUSEUM  OP  THE  AMERICAN  INDIAN 

HEYE  FOUNDATION 

1922 


THIS  scries  of  INDIAN  NOTES  AND  MONO- 
GRAPHS is  devoted  primarily  to  the  publica- 
tion of  the  result  of  studies  by  members  of 
the  staff  of  the  Museum  of  the  American 
Indian,  Heye  Foundation,  and  is  uniform 
with  HISPANIC  NOTES  AND  MONOGRAPHS, 
published  by  the  Hispanic  Society  of 
America,  with  which  organization  this 
Museum  is  in  cordial  cooperation. 

Only  the  first  ten  volumes  of  INDIAN 
NOTES  AND  MONOGRAPHS  are  numbered. 
The  unnumbered  parts  may  readily  be  deter- 
mined by  consulting  the  List  of  Publications 
issued  as  one  of  the  series. 


INDIAN  NOTES 
AND   MONOGRAPHS 

EDITED  BY  F.  W.  HODGE 


A  SERIES  OF  PUBLICA- 
TIONS RELATING  TO  THE 
AMERICAN  ABORIGINES 


A  REPORT  FROM 
NATCHITOCHES  IN  1807 

BY 

DR.  JOHN  SIBLEY 

EDITED,  WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION,  BY 
ANNIE  HELOISE  ABEL 


NEW   YORK 

MUSEUM  OF  THE   AMERICAN   INDIAN 

HEYE   FOUNDATION 

1922 


THE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  SAN  M£G0 

LA  JOLLA.  CALIFORNIA 


3 

CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Introduction  5 

A  REPORT  FROM  NATCHITOCHES  IN  1807. 
by  Dr  John  Sibley  11 

Votes  88 

Texas  Indians  f  93 

ILLUSTRATION 

PL.  I,  A-C.     Facsimile  of  notes  by  Sibley, 
chiefly   on   the   Hietan,    or    Comanche, 
appended   to  his  Journal  102 

INDIAN    NOTES 

5 

INTRODUCTION 

MT'  N  RECENT  years  and  largely  be- 
cause  of   the   researches   of   Dr 

9JH35      Isaac     Joslin      Cox,      historical 

interest    in    old    Louisiana    has 
centered  chiefly  in  early  American  designs 
upon  the  same  and  in  the  astonishing  in- 
trigues of  that  most  contemptible  of  mer- 
cenary beings,  James  Wilkinson,   general- 
issimo  of   the   United   States   Army.     As 
usual,  the  interest  has  only  very  rarely  and 
never  more  than  indirectly  extended  itself 
sufficiently  to  include  the  affairs  of  the  abo- 
rigines   when    dissociated    from    relations 
conditioned    by    their     contact    with    the 
superior    race.     It    was    not    before    the 
appearance  of  Professor  Bolton's  Athanase 
de  Mezieres  that  ever  so  slight  a  suggestion 
of  the  importance  of  a  knowledge  of  the  once 
numerous  Southern  tribes  in  and  for  them- 
selves was  communicated  to  students  of 
American  history.    The  journal  here  edited 

INDIAN    NOTES 

NATCHITOCHES 


is   a   meager   contribution   to   the   source 
material  now  in  demand. 

The  author  of  the  journal  was  Dr  John 
Sibley,  who,  for  a  considerable  period  sub- 
sequent to  1803,  was  in  a  position  to  know 
more  probably  than  did  any  other  man  of 
the  time  concerning  the  Indians  who  dwelt 
around  about  Natchitoches,1  a  frontier 
post  on  Red  river  established  by  Saint 
Denis  in  the  second  decade  of  the  eight 
eenth  century,  and  most  strategically  im- 
portant in  the  beginning  of  the  succeeding 
century  because  it  commanded  the  approach 
to  Texas. 

Needless  to  say,  Dr  Sibley  was  not  a 
native  of  the  region  where  circumstances 
later  placed  him  officially.  He  was  a  New 
Englander,  having  been  born  at  Sutton, 
Massachusetts,  in  1757.2  He  studied  medi 
cine  and,  like  his  father,  Timothy  Sibley, 
identified  himself  with  the  "patriots"  of 
the  American  Revolution,3  he  being  a 
surgeon's  mate.4  Independence  once  se- 
cured and  peace  restored,  John  Sibley  re- 
sumed his  profession  and  opened  a  practice 
at  Great  Barrington,  whither  he  seems  to 


INDIAN    NOTES 


INTRODUCTION 


have  removed  previous  to  CornwalhV  sur 
render  at  Yorktown.  At  Great  Harrington 
he  met  and  married  Elizabeth  Hopkins 
daughter  of  the  Reverend  Samuel  Hopkins ;•• 
but  his  life  with  her  was  not  of  the  happiest, 
and  about  1784  he  left  New  England  alto- 
gether and  went  south  to  Fayetteville,  North 
Carolina.6  There  in  the  Cape  Fear  country 
the  surroundings  were  eminently  congenial 
to  one  of  Sibley's  temperament,  and  there 
what  was  to  be  his  absorbing  interest  in  the 
frontier  had  excellent  chance  to  develop 
Yet  Sibley  did  not  make  Fayetteville  his 
permanent  home.  Report  has  it  that  the 
story  of  his  domestic  infelicities  followed 
him  thither  and  when  he  would  have 
obliterated  the  past  by  re-marriage7 — a 
bigamous  offence  under  the  circumstances 
— he  found  that  not  even  backwoodsmen 
of  the  Joseph  Martin  type,8  of  the  stuff  of 
which  Regulators9  are  on  occasion  made, 
would  tolerate  violation  of  the  customary 
law.  Made  uncomfortable  by  his  neigh- 
bors or  urged  by  some  equally  cogent 
reason,  Sibley  found  it  convenient  to 
migrate  again.  He  wandered  into  Loui- 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


NATCHITOCHES 


siana,  arriving  there  the  year  of,  but  some 
little  time  antecedent  to,  its  transfer  to  the 
United  States.10 

The  move  was  opportune.  Sibley  be- 
came known  to  Governor  Claiborne  and 
through  him  to  President  Jefferson  with 
whose  opinion  as  to  the  larger  limits  of  the 
Louisiana  cession  his  own  coincided.11 
By  letter  of  March  20,  1804,  he  put  himself 
at  Jefferson's  disposal,  with  the  result  that 
he  was  appointed  "surgeon's  mate  for  the 
troops  stationed  at  Natchitoches,  and  later 
as  Indian  agent  for  Orleans  Territory  and 
the  region  south  of  the  Arkansas."12  The 
instructions13  sent  to  him  by  Secretary 
Dearborn  in  connection  with  the  latter 
appointment  indicate  the  eagerness  with 
which  the  American  government  was 
seeking  intimate  acquaintance  with  its 
new  possession,  and  likewise  with  Indians 
outside  its  recognized  bounds.  In  secur 
ing  such  information,  Sibley  had  al- 
ready proved  himself  highly  efficient;  for, 
besides  furnishing  Claiborne  and  others  with 
geographical  and  ethnological  data,14  he 
had  prepared  and  forwarded  to  the  Depart- 


INDTAN    NOTES 


men t*  of  War  two  reports  of  considerable 
value,  one  known  as  Historical  Sketches,15 
the  other  an  account  of  Red  River,16  based 
on  explorations  that  he  had  made  himself 
and  on  information  gleaned  from  his  assist- 
ant, Francis  Grappe.17 

The  present  journal  is  in  the  nature  of  a 
supplement18  to  the  Historical  Sketches. 
Of  similar  ethnological  interest,  it  has  an 
added  claim  on  the  student's  attention;  for 
it  reflects  southern  life  in  a  first  contact 
with  aborigines,  and  records  the  daily 
trivial  happenings  of  a  frontier  post.  More- 
over, it  has  incidental  references  to  con- 
temporary explorers,  particularly  to  that 
most  elusive  of  them,  Zebulon  Pike,  that 
are  not  without  value.  It  has  until  now 
remained  in  obscurity,  because,  at  the  time 
of  its  arrival  in  Washington,  it  passed  into 
the  possession  of  the  Treasury  Department 
and  was  there  buried.  In  1905  it  was  re- 
discovered and  transmitted19  to  the  Indian 
Office,  where  it  now  reposes. 

ANNIE  HELOISE  ABEL. 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


I) 

A  REPORT  FROM  NATCHI- 
TOCHES  IN  1807 

An    abstract  from    the    Records  of    John 
Sibley  esq.r    Indian  Agent  in  the  Territory 
of  Orleans  for  the  Year  1807  Relative  to  Indian 

Jany  5" 

TWO   Caddo    Indians    arriv'd  here 
on    Business    at    the    factory    & 

J^H^      report  that  a  party  of  their  Na- 

tion have  been  on  a  friendly  visit 
and  to  trade  with  the  Panis  and  were  on 
their  return  home   Rob'd   of  Seventy  two 
Horses  by  a  party  of   Ozages,   and   left 
on  foot  about  200  Miles  from  home  with 
Considerable  quanty  of  Baggage,  Consist- 
ing Principally  of  Buffalo  Robes,  they  sent 
a   runner   to    inform   the   Chief   of   their 
Situation,  who  immediately  sat  off  with  all 
the  Horses  he  could  Muster  to  their  relief, 
and  that  soon  after  he  left  home  his  (the 
Chiefs)  House  Caught  fire  and  Burnt  up 

INDIAN    NOTES 

12 


NATCHITOCHES 


with  a  quantity  of  corn  and  Other  Valuable 
property. — 

Same  day  I  gave  an  Aiche  woman  a 
Shawl  for  attending  and  giving  me  a 
Vocabulary20  of  the  Aiche  Language. 
Cap*  John  Burnett  Presented  himselfe 
and  made  Oath  that  a  Creek  or  Conchetta 
Indian  Commonly  called  Tom  was  killed  at 
the  Salt  works  in  the  vicinity  of  Natchitoches 
on  Saturday  the  10"  Ins  by  a  Man  by  the 
Name  of  Samuel  Watson,  a  dispute  took 
place  between  Watson  &  the  Indian.  Tom 
the  Indian  went  &  got  a  knife  and  say'd  he 
would  Kill  Watson  and  was  advancing  to- 
wards him  with  the  knife  in  his  hand, 
Watson  endeavour'd  to  Avoid  him,  but 
Could  not,  a  Boat  was  taking  in  Salt. 
Watson  went  on  Board  of  the  Boat, 
Caught  a  Loaded  Gun,  the  Indian  Still 
Advancing.  Watson  discharged  the  Gun  at 
him  &  killed  him  Instantly,  they  being  but 
a  few  feet  apart,  in  presence  of  Several 
Persons.  Watson  went  Again  on  Board  of 
the  Boat  Loaded  the  Gun  Again  &  went 
Away;  the  Sherrif  was  immediately  dis- 
patch'd  to  Apprehend  him,  but  Could  not 


INDIAN    NOTES 


13 


find  him,  I  Sent  two  Indians  after  the  Rela- 
tions of  Tom  to  bring  them  in  that  I  might 
explain  to  them  the  Circumstances,  before 
from  any  false  impressions  they  might 
Attempt  Retaliation,  and  wrote  to  Govr 
Claiborne  requesting  [page  2]  his  Excellency 
would  be  pleas'd  to  Issue  a  Proclamation 
for  the  apprehention  of  Watson.  Watson  is 
about  five  feet  10  Inches  high,  about  24 
years  of  Age,  late  from  Warren  County  in 
Kentucky,  has  light  blue  eyes,  light  Com- 
plexion, Short  hair  and  is  Somewhat  Stoop 
Shouldered. 

Arriv'd  a  Party  of  Caddos  to  trade,  who 
say  all  is  quiet  with  them  and  with 
their  friends  the  Panis;  but  Complain  that 
Game  is  Scarse  from  their  being  no 
Acorns,  the  loss  of  so  many  Horses  pre- 
vented their  going  into  the  Praries  after 
Buffalo,  they  have  heard  Nothing  of 
Mesr8  Lewis,21  Alexander  &  Party  who 
Sat  off  for  the  Panis  Nation  in  Decr  last, 
Since  they  passed  their  Village. —  I  gave 
Cut  finger,  who  is  a  particular  friend  & 
Companion  of  the  great  Caddo  Chief  a  Hat 
and  had  made  for  him  a  Blue  half  Regi- 


1807 


Feby21* 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


14 


NATCHITOCHES 


26" 


March  18' 


mental  frock  Coat  which  I  presented  him 
with,  he  was  particularly  friendly  &  atten- 
tive to  Major  Freemans22  exploring  Party. 
Two  Caddos  Came  to  trade,  report  Nothing 
Extraordinary;  I  Gave  them  Provisions  & 
bought  of  the  factor23  two  Brass  Kittles 
to  keep  to  lend  to  Indians  who  Come  in 
On  business  from  a  distance  and  bring  no 
Cooking  Utensils  with  them. 
The  Uncle  &  brother  of  Tom  the  Indian 
who  was  killed  at  the  Saline  Arriv'd.  I 
informed  them  of  the  Circumstances  so  far 
as  I  knew  them,  that  Watson  had  fled  and 
that  all  due  pains  had  been  Taken  to  Appre- 
hend him,  and  if  he  could  be  Caught  he 
would  be  brought  to  trial  &  if  found  Guilty 
would  be  punish'd  Agreable  to  Our  Laws, 
and  that  Our  Gov*  would  always  afford 
them  protection  &  we  were  as  ready  to 
render  them  Justice  as  to  demand  it  of 
them,  we  would  punish  an  Injury  done  to 
them  as  soon  as  to  a  White  Man;  but  by  our 
Laws  the  Innocent  was  never  to  suffer 
for  the  Guilty,  they,  I  hop'd  had  Sufficient 
Confidence  in  the  Justice  of  Our  Gov*  as  to 
Preclude  in  them  all  Idea  of  retaliation. 


INDIAN    NOTES 


MURDER   AND    ROBBERY 

15 

20* 

The  Ozages 
scalps  were 
afterwards 
brot  down 
&  shown 
to  me, 
they  gave 
the  Caddos 
some  of 
the  Horses 
again 

and  that  they  believ'd  Our  Gov*  was  Just 
and  would  Punish  a  White  man  for  Killing 
an  Indian  as  soon  as  for  killing  a  WhiteMan, 
and  that  from  what  they   Understood  it 
might  appear  on  trial   that   Tom   was  to 
Blame  &  that  Watson  was  Oblig'd  to  kill 
him  or  be  killed  by  him;  they  should  rest  it 
entirely   with   us    to   do   what   was   right 
Agreable  to  our  Laws,  &c. 
I  treated  them  well  in  my  House  Gave 
them  Provisions  when  they  went  away  & 
they  Appear'd  to  be  Satisfied  and  talk'd 

Received  information  that  a  Party  of  Ali- 
bamis  &  Appelaches  were  in  the  Prarie 
above  the  Caddo  Village  hunting  Buffelo  & 
fell  in  with  the  Same  party  of  Ozages  who 
Rob'd     the    Caddos     of     their      Horses, 
Attack'd  them  in  the  Night  in  their  Camp 
killed  five  of  them  &  defeated  the  whol 
Party  &  Retook  Most  of  the  Horses,  there 
were  more  than  twenty  Ozages  &  only  eight 
of  the  other  Partie  who  Sustained  no  loss, 
the  Scalps  of  the  five  they  Killed  had  arriv'd 
at   the   Conchetta   Village  where  all   the 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

16 

NATCHITOCHES 

1807 
April  3<». 

Neighbouring   Tribes   were   Collecting   to 
hold  the  War  Dance;  my  informant  was  one 
of  the  Alibamis  who  belonged  to  the  Party. 
A  Small  Party  of  Cherokees  Arriv'd  here 
in  two  Perogues  from  up  Red  River  with 
Deer  Skins  to  trade  in  the  factory,  &  being 
the  first  Cherokees  that  ever  were  here  and 
well  behaved  Indians,    I  treated  them  well 
with  provisions.    There  had  been  a  Mis- 
understanding between  them  &  the  Caddos 
for  some  years,  they  had  been  to  see  the 
Caddos  &  made  friends  with  them,  &  some 
Caddos  Accompanied  them  here  As  Pilots 

KT-   Kir  C\rr\nr-  nf   til/*   fVii^f          ... 

Seven  or  eight  years  Ago  there  was  by 
Accident  a  Cherokee  Killed  in  the  Caddo 
Country,24  the  brother  to  the  Man  who  was 
killed  was  one  of  the  party  that  was  here, 
he  told  me  they  had  talk'd  it  over  with  the 
Caddo  Chief,  who  entirely  Satisfied  him, 
he  did  not  blame  the  Caddos  in  the  Least, 
&  spoke  highly  of  the  Caddo  Chief. 
[Page  4]  A  Chacta  Indian  Called  Cap*  Sam 
presented  himselfe  &  Produced  a  Certificate 
Sighn'd  by  some  respectable  Inhabitants  of 
the  County  of  Rapides  on  Red  River  where 

INDIAN    NOTES 

PASCAGOULAS 

17 

he  had  lived  for  some  time  past  that  he  was 
peacable,  &  Honest,  &c  he  re- 
quested permission  to  plant  Corn  &  build 
some  temporary  huts  at  a  Prarie  Near  the 
Adaize  where  he  Could  live  quietly  &  have 
his  little  Stock  about  him  &  not  have  them 
in  the  way  of  white  people.    I  gave  him 
permission,  he  had  with  him  seven  Men  & 
seven  Women  exclusive  of  Children,     to  en- 
courage him  I  gave  him  Seven  Hatchets  to 
Cut  Cane  with,  Seven  Hoes  &  One  Ax,  the 
Hoes  I  bought  of  the  factor  the  Ax  & 
Hatchets  were  remaining  of  my  own  Indian 
Goods.    I  gave  him  likewise  Some  Seed 
Corn,    Peach    Stones,    Garden    &    Mellon 

4' 

Francis  Bossie  esqr.  &  Mr  John  Veroh  of 
this  County  Presented  themselves  with  the 
Pascagola  Chief  &  a  party  of  Indians  of 
that  Nation,  and  'the  Chief  by  the  Inter- 
preter Veron  represented  that  Some  years 
Ago  his  Nation  Sold  some  Land  to  the 
Late  Monsr.  LeCour  the  former  husband 
of  the  Present  Madam  Gillard,  and  that 
Now  Mr.  Gillard  claims  more  Land  under 
that  Sale  than  they  ever  Sold  &  Particularly 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

18 


NATCHITOCHES 


1807 


1  did  in- 
form Mr 
Gillard,and 
the  Indians 
remain  as 
yet  peac- 
ably  on  the 
land 


the  Lands  which  they  expressly  reserv'd 
for  their  Village  where  they  now  live,  and 
requests  them  to  move  off  &  Give  it  up  to 
him.  Mr  Veron  Declar'd  he  was  present 
at  the  Sale  of  the  Land  to  Mr  LeCour  and 
was  the  Interpreter  between  them,  and 
knows  the  Statement  of  the  Chief  to  be  true; 
I  inform'd  the  Indians  that  Mr  Gillard 
Never  having  had  possession  of  the  Land  in 
question,  they  had  Never  been  out  of 
possession  of  it,  that  on  the  Change  of  Gov 
we  found  them  there,  they  Could  not  be 
turn'd  off  by  Mr  Gillard  untill  his  Claim 
was  established,  that  If  it  came  before  the 
Board  of  Commissioners  [  Page  5  ]  of  Land 
Claims,  I  should  think  it  my  duty  to  State 
to  the  Commissioners  their  Objections  to  it, 
with  the  evidence  they  Could  produce  rela- 
tive to  the  Sale  &c,  and  ,that  Justice  would 
Undoubtedly  be  done  them;  but  what  ever 
had  been  Legally  done  by  the  Spanish  Gov1 
would  not  be  undone  by  our  Gov*  they 
might  in  the  Mean  time  plant  their  Corn 
in  peace,  &  I  would  inform  Mr  Gillard  that 
his  Claim  Could  not  be  affected  by  the 
Indians  Continuing  as  usual  on  the  Land. 


INDIAN    NOTES 


"CONCHETTAS" 

19 

that  it  was  desirable  to  avoid  all  disputes 

Detween   the  Red   &   White  people;   but 

Should  his  Claim  be  established,  the  Indians 

must  then   move   to    Some    Other  place. 

April  7 

i  Id  IMlllgU  Ot,  JXCU.  OllUCo  LWU 

Conchetta  Chiefs  with  33  Men  of  the  Sabine 

Village  Arriv'd.    I  gave  them  Provisions. 

Red  Shoes  say'd  that  Tom  who  was  Killed 

at  the  Sabine  by  Watson  was  his  Brother 

and  that  he  came  to  demand,  and  expected, 

Satisfaction  for  it.     I  informed  him  what 

had  been  done  to  apprehend  Watson,  that 

he  had  been  Once  taken  &  broke  away 

Again,  and  that  If  he  Could  be  Caught  he 

would  be  brought  to  trial,  and  the"  Same 

Justice  would  be  done  them  by  Our  Laws 

that  would  If  a  White  Man  had  been  Killed, 

that  their  great  Father  the  President  Con- 

sidered all  the  Red  people  as  his  Children, 

and  he  would  not  Suffer  any  wrong  to  be 

done   them   without   given   them   Just   & 

Legal  Satisfaction,    If  the  person  who  had 

done  the  wrong  Could  be  Caught;  but  if  he 

made  his  escape  we  could  do  only  what  the 

Case  would  Admit  of;  the  Innocent  Could 

not  Suffer  for  the  guilty.    Bad  men  ought 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

20 

NATCHITOCHES 

1807 
14:' 

not  to  break  our  friendship;  he  seemed  satis- 
fied &  went  away,    Return'd  Again  &  de- 
manded Some  presents.     I  ask'd  him  for 
what  he  said  to  keep  them  quiet  &  from 
doing  us  any  Mischief  on  Account  of  Tom, 
that   he    Could   not  think  of  loosing  his 
Brother  for  Nothing25 
[  Page  6  ]     I  did  not  disguise  from  him  that 
I  was  not  well  pleas'd  at  the  manner  in 
which  he  had  express'd  himselfe,  that  we 
were  not  to  be  menac'd  into  a  Compliance 
with  his  unreasonable  demand,    after  the 
explanation  I  had  given  him,  he  Said  no 
more  about  it;  I  however  before  he  went 
away  gave  him  a  Hat  &  a  half  Regimental 
Blue  Coat  faced  with  Red  which  I  had 
made  with  Several  others  of  some  stroud26 
that  remain'd  of  the  Goods  I  receiv'd,  which 

The  Grand  Caddo  Chief  and  a  party  of  15 
men  of  that  Nation  in  Perogues  loaded  with 
Skins  arriv'd.    I  gave  them  Provisions  &  a 

I  gave  the  Caddo  Chief  a  Scarlet  Regimental 
Coat  trim'd  with  Black  Velvet  and  white 
Plated  Buttons.    The  Cloth  I  bought  of 

INDIAN   NOTES 

CADDO    GIFTS 

21 

the  factor  the  Making  &  Trimings  Cost 
Eight  Dollars.    At  the  same  time  gave  the 
Son  of  Carody  the  Old  Caddo  Chief  a  Blue 
Half  Regimental  Coat  trim'd  with  Scarlet 

1807 
April  25' 

And  Sent  by  the  Caddo  Chief  a  Regimental 
Coat  to  a  friend  of  his  Called  the  Grand 
Ozages.      (Called  so  from  his  having  in  a 
Battle  with  a  party  of  Ozages  been  wounded 
with  a  Ball  in  his  forehead)  and  who  parti- 
cularly attach'd  himself  e  to  Majr  Freeman 
in  his  exploring  expedition  &  accompanied 
him  from  the  Caddo  Village  as  far  up  the 
River  as  he  went,  and  back  again  to  Natchi- 
toches,  and  was  Particularly  Servisable  in 
hunting,  as  a  Guide  &  keeping  the  Other 
Indians  together,  and  is  in  Major  Freemans 
Opinion  one  of  the  Best  Indians  he  ever  saw. 

Murry  each  of   them   had   permission   to 
purchase  a  Horse  of  the  Indians  at  a  fair 
price,  the  marks  of  the  Horses  were  Regis- 

[  Page  7]    The  Interpreter  Gaspard  Phille- 
bare  Arriv'd  from  the    Conchetta  Village 
with  the  Boats  and  what  he  found  of  the 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

22 

NATCHITOCHES 

May  12'. 
Reid  came 
to  Natchi- 
toches  & 
presented 
nimselfe 
and     gave 
himself  up. 

May  5". 

Articles  which  were  left   there  by  Major 
Freeman,   he  hired    fourteen   Indians    to 
assist  in   bringing  down  the  Boats,  who 
Mr  Linnard  Paid  at  my  request  out  of  the 
factory.     Reid  the  Corporal  of  the  Guard 
who  was    left   with    the    Charge   of    the 
Property  after  making  way  with  a  number 
of    the     Things,   and    Selling  about   one 
hundred  Dollars  worth  of  Deer  Skins  be- 
longing to  the  Three  Soldiers  who  were  left 
with   him   Deserted   to   the  Spaniards  at 
Nacogdoches.    they  were  Oblig'd  to  Leave  a 
Large  Perogue  behind  them  at  one  of  the 
Rafts  in  the  River  above  Campti  not  being 

Three  Caddos  Arriv'd  Special  Messengers 
from  the  Caddo  Chief  to  inform  me  that  a 
party  of  Chactas  consisting  of  Eight  per- 
sons from  the  great  Nation  Under  a  Leader 
Called  Stamelachee  had  lately  been  at  a 
Camp  of  Nandacos  at  a  Saline  on  the  River 
Sabine  above  where  the  Nandacos  live,  the 
Men  being  out  hunting  &  left  their  Women 
to  Make  Salt  &  had  Murdered  two  of  the 
Women  &  wounded  Some  Others,  without 
any  provocation  and  brought  the  Scalps 

INDIAN    NOTES 

CHOCTAW-OSAGE    FEUD 

23 

of    the    women    through    the    Conchetta 
Village  on  their  way  to  the  great  Chacta 
Nation.    The   Chief   Instructed   them    to 
tell  me  that  he  Sent  me  this  information 
agreeable  to  the  Stipulations  of  the  treaty 
and  that  he  demanded  Satisfaction  for  the 

8'. 

15* 
1807 

I  dispatch  'd  William  Rollings   to  find  all 
the  Chacta  Chiefs  who  Assisted  at  the  Treaty 
of  peace  with  the  Caddos,  to  give  them  the 
Above  information,  and  request  they  would 
come  immediately  to  Natchitoches  for  the 
purpose  of  concerting   Measures   to   give 
to  the   Caddo   Chief   the   Satisfaction   he 
demanded. 
Piamingo  the  Conchetta  Chief  Arriv'd  with 
a  party  from  the  upper  Village  on  Red 
River,    he  brought    two    of    the  Ozages 
Scalps,  that  the  Party  of  Indians  of  that 
Village  had   Taken   a   Short  time  before 
[  Page  8  ]    Piamingo  Said  that  Red  River 
was  rising  remarkably  high  that  Some  of 
the  Village  &  Cornfields  were  Overflow'd, 
he  went  there  to  endeavour  to  perswade 
the  Indians  of  that  Village  to  abandon  it 

AND   MONOGRAPHS 

24 


NATCHITOCHES 


May  20'. 


&  go  &  live  with  them  on  the  Sabine  he  said 
he  Could  not  perswade  them  to  Move. 

Note.  I  afterwards  had  reason  to  think 
he  was  Sent  by  Governor  Cordero  of  S* 
Antonio,  and  that  the  real  Object  was  to 
perswade  all  the  different  Tribes  of  Creeks 
on  the  West  side  of  the  Mississippi  (viz) 
Conchettas,  Alibamis  &  Appelaches  to  move 
into  the  dominions  of  Spain  to  Consolidate 
&  make  them  as  formidable  as  possible. 
Biachubby  a  Chacta  Chief  &  48  persons 
with  him  arriv'd  from  Acatahola  where  they 
live,  they  were  going  on  a  hunting  Party 
towards  the  Caddo  Country,  and  on  hearing 
of  the  Murder  of  the  tw  Women  turn'd 
back  the  Same  day  Arriv'd  Tombolin 
another  Chacta  Chief  &  Party  with  Tusca- 
toga,  the  Chief  &  his  Party,  Neuchema  a 
Chief,  and  Chechemastubba,  all  Accom- 
panied by  their  Warriors. 

Since  the  death  of  the  Chief  Chapanchaba 
no  one  has  been  Elected  to  fill  his  place, 
Tombolin  is  a  Sensible  Active  Young  Man, 
of  the  family  of  the  deceas'd  Chief,  and 
Nephew  to  the  two  Brothers  Tuscatoga  & 
Chechemastubba,  who  had  Such  influence 


INDIAN    NOTES 


CHOCTAW    ARRIVE 

25 

that  they  Could  Appoint  without  Opposi- 

tion who  they  pleas'd,  they  Agree'd  to  pro- 

pose their  Nephew  Tombolin,  &  inform'd 

me  of  it;  I  know  the  temper  of  him  and  his 

disposition  to  Drink,  and  was  Sorry  to  hear 

him  propos'd.     Tuscatoga  was  my  choice, 

who  is  not  Apt  to  get  Intoxicated  &  is  a 

peacable  Honest  Man;  but   I   being  Un- 

willing to  Oppose  them  consented  to  their 

proposal,    on    conditions    that    Tuscatoga 

would  Act  as  Second  to  him,  which  was 

Agree'd  to. 

Same  day  Arriv'd  a   party  of  Alibamis 

from  the  Conchetta  Village  on  Red  River, 

with  a  quantity  of  skins  to  trade  in  the  fac- 

tory, gave  them  Provisions. 

[Page  9]    Several    Other    Chacta    Chiefs 

1807 

with  their  Warriors  arriv'd  (viz)  The  Huani 

May  26' 

Chief,   Cap*  Sam,  &  Mucklehei  &  White 

Meat  whose  wife  is  the  Daughter  to  the 

great    Chief    Deceas'd,    Chapanchaba.    I 

«.~         ^    4-Vi                    ~11    T>  —  ~         "      " 

gave  inem  an  JT  revisions. 

Tuscatoga  came  and  inform'd  me  that  all 

28* 

the  Chiefs  &  head  Men  had  arriv'd   that 

were  expected,  and  they  were  all  assembled 

at  the  Indian  House  and  were  waiting  for 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

26 

NATCHITOCHES 

me  there.  —  I  accordingly  repaired  thither 
with    the   Interpreter   and  a  Number  of 
Gentlemen  as  Spectators.    When  Tuscatoga 
Presented  to  me  his  Nephew  Tombolin  as 
their  Newly  Elected  Chief,  who  being  Seated 
Tuscatoga  Seated  himselfe  at  his  left  hand, 
they  were  both  of  them  formally  Installed 
as  Chiefs,  and  all  who  were  present  of  the 
Nation    (upwards  of  two  hundred)    came 
one  after  another  &  took  them  by  the  hand 

I  Presented  Tombolin  with  a  Sword,  with 
such  a  Speech  as  I  thought  Appropriate  to 
the  Occasion,  with  a  Hat  &  Plume,  a  White 
Shirt,  &  a  Blue  Regimental  Coat.    And  to 

after  which  I  explained  to  them,  the  Cause 
of  my  Sending  for  them,  represented   the 
Murder  of  the  two  Women  as  unprovok'd, 
Cruel,  &  Cowardly,  and  disgracefull  to  War- 
riors, &  that  by  the  Treaty  they  were  bound 
to  make  a  Just  retribution.     I  describ'd  to 
them  the  Horrors  of  their  Wars,  that  they 
bore  hard  upon  their  Women  &  Children; 
defeated  their  hunting  &  Planting  Pursuits, 
&  brought  upon  them  Misery  in  a   great 

INDIAN    NOTES 

ADVICE    TO    CHOCTAW 


27 


variety  of  forms,  &  besides  it  was  the  Wish 
of  their  great  Father  the  President  of  the 
United  States  that  they  Should  all  live  in 
peace,  &  Recommended  to  them  that  a 
respectable  delegation  of  three  or  four  per- 
sons Should  be  immediately  Sent  to  the 
Caddo  Nation,  with  a  good  Talk  to  the 
Chief  expressing  their  Wish  to  live  in  peace 
&  disaprobating  the  Murders  that  had  been 
Committed,  disclaiming  all  [Page  10] 
knowledge  of  it  or  Connection  with  the 
Murderers,  &  their  regret  at  it,  and  promis- 
ing to  do  all  they  could  to  have  the  Mur- 
derers punished;  which  was  unanimously 
Agree'd  to,  &  Tuscatoga  Offered  to  go  & 
two  of  his  friends  Offered  to  Accompany 
him,  &  Mr  Philebare  the  Caddo  Interpreter 
who  Speaks  both  Languages  Agree'd  to  go 
with  them;  preparations  were  made  Ac- 
cordingly for  theu*  departure. 

I  Gave  Tuscatoga  a  Medal  &  Sent 
Another  by  him  to  the  Great  Caddo  Chief, 
which  I  had  made  by  John  Conrad  &  a 
White  Smith,  and  two  White  Shirts,  2 
Small  Gorgets,  2  Braggy's28  and  2  pair  of 
Leggings,  2  Black  Handkfs,  4  Ells  binding 


1807 
May 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


28 

NATCHITOCHES 

2lb  Powder,    4lb  lead,    1   Comb,    &    4°' 

vermilion  and  a  New  Bridle.    And  Paid  a 

Chickesaw  $24-75ct  '•  in  goods  Out  of  the 

he  now  has 

the  Horse 

factory  for  a  Horse  for  Mr  Gaspard  Philebare 

in       good 
order,     as 

the  Interpreter  to  ride  to  the  Caddo  Nation 

public  Pro- 
perty.— 

.^  4.1,^  /-•]  t-  r>~.~. 

wim  tne  i^nacta  v^ommissioners.  — 

In  the  Mean  time  many  of  the  Indians  re- 

main'd  here,  Saying  Untill  they  knew  the 

result  of  the  embassy  they  were  afraid  to 

go  Out  hunting,  that  they  would  go  as  Soon 

as  I  could  tell  them  whether  If  they  went 

into  the  Woods  it  was  to  be  Killed  or  to 

kill  a  deer.    I  Gave  them  two  Barrels  of 

Damag'd  Flour  that  Came  down  from  the 

Conchetta    Village    in    Major    Freeman's 

Boats. 

While  they  remain'd  here  Tombolin  the 

newly   made   Chief   got   into   a   habit   of 

Drunkenness  and  behav'd    so  111  at  my 

House  &  to  me  for  refusing  him  Liquor 

Threatening  my  life,  Alarming  my  Servants 

by  his  Menacings,  that  Mr  Linnard  ran  & 

brought  me  a  Loaded  Pistol,  to  Shoot  him 

If  he  did  not  desist,  Another  person  Brought 

me  a  Gun.    I  however  had  a  Scuffle  with 

him  &  I  believe  at  some  risque  took  his 

INDIAN   NOTES 

BALL-PLAY 

29 

Sword  from  'him  which  he  [Page  11  ]  Drawn 
to  Kill  or  frighten  me,  his  two  Uncles 
Tuscatoga  &  Chechemastubba  heard  of  the 
fray  and  hastened  to  the  House  and  when 
they  understood  how  he  had  behaved  would 
have  killed  him  on  the  Spot  If  I  had  per- 
mitted them,  they  told  him  in  my  Presence 
if  he  ever  Insulted  me  Again  they  would  kill 
him,  we  however,  Concluded  to  depose  him 
&  took  his  Hat  &  Plume  &  Coat  from  him 
I  gave  him  his  Coat  again  by  the  request  of 
Tuscatoga  but  kept  his  Sword,  which  I 
afterwards  gave  to  Tuscatoga  who  is  now 
regarded  as  the  first  Chief  on  this  Side  of  the 
Missisippi,  the  Hat  &  Plume  was  Given 
to  one  who  went  with  Tuscatoga  to  the 

C*  -i  A  A  r\  Villnrrr- 

1807 

While  the  Chactas  remain'd  here  a  large 
Party  of  Pascagolas  came  to  play  a  Match 
at  Ball  with  them,  there  were  twenty  four 
players  of  a  Side  they  made  high  Betts,  & 
even  the  Women  bet  with  One  Another 
every  rag  of  Cloathing  they  had,  and  the 
Winer  Stript  the  Looser  immediately  On 
the  ground,  the  Men  Bet  their  Horses,  Guns, 
Jewelry  &c  —  the  first  day  the  Chactas  Beat 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

30 

NATCHITOCHES 

1807 
June  8'. 

the  Pascagolas,  they  play'd  again  two  days 
After  Changing  the  Match  a  little  by  leaving 
out  Some  &  taking  in  Others  &  the  Pascago- 
las Beat;  the  Points  of  Game  are  Twelve, 
their  Agility  &  exertion   is  astonishing  to 
Spectators,  &  very  Interesting,  they  Often 
hurt  one  Another  by  Blows  &  falls,  Brake  & 
Desiccate  Bones  &  Joints,  &  Sometimes  Kill 
One  Another,  but  Never  get  Angry  or  resent 
Anything  that  is  done  in  the  game  of  Ball. 
If  one  ever  discovers  any  Anger  or  resent- 
ment, he  is  turn'd  Out  as  disquallified,  &  not 
Suffered  to  play  in  a  Match  Again,  which 
is  deem'd  very  disgraceful!,    a  description 
of  the  Principles  of  the  Game,  the  Instru- 
ment Used,  the  preparations  &  Rules  &c 
would  be  Somewhat  lengthy,  and  probably 
would  not  be  deem'd  worth  Noticing  here, 

[Page  12]     I    Receiv'd    information   from 
White  Meat  a  Chacta  Indian  who  lives  at  the 
Yan  Cooko  Prarie  who  came  here  this  day 
that  he  believ'd  or  had  reason  to  believe,  that 
a  Short  time  Ago  a  White  Man  had  been 
Murdered  by  a  young  Conchetta  Indian  on 
a  Branch  of  the  Bayau  Cossachie  about 

INDIAN    NOTES 

WHITE    MAN    KILLED 

31 

Thirty   or   40   Miles   from   Natchitoches. 
After  procuring  the  best  information  the 
Indian  Could  give  about  the  place  where  the 
Murder  was  sepose'd  to  have  been  Com- 
mitted, I  employ'd  John  David,  &  William 
Rollings  to  go  Out  &  Search  for  the  dead 
Body  and  procure  all  the  Information  they 
Could  about  it,  I  gave  them  provisions  for 

They  Set  off  the  9"  of  June,  the  same  day 
Joseph  Gillard  Esquire  came  to  Natchitoches 
and  Said  he  had  been  inform'd  that  in  Con- 
sequence of  that  Murder  which  'twas  Said 
had  been  Committed  on  the  Bayau  Cossa- 
chie  by  a  Conchetta  Indian,  that  they  were 
Cutting  up  their  corn  at  their  Village  On 
the  Sabine  and  were  going  to  abandon  it  & 
remove  all  off  into  the  Dominions  of  Spain, 
and  that  they  had  Sent  to  the  Appelaches, 
&  Pascagolas  a  Belt  &  War  Talk,  to  Induce 
them  to  Join  them  in  going  to  war  Against 
the  Americans.     Same  day  I  wrote  to  Mr 
Lesard  at  Rapide  requesting  him  to  procure 
what  information  he  Could  relative  to  the 
Above  report  &  inform  me  of  it,    If  he 
should  deem  it  Necessary  to  send  an  express 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

32 


NATCHITOCHES 


June  12*. 


1807 
June  14". 


I  would  pay  the  expence  of  it.  The  Same 
day  I  wrote  to  Govr  Claiborne  Stating  the 
above  information,  &  that  we  had  heard 
Cap*  Pike29  was  in  Some  of  the  Interior 
Spanish  Provinces. 

John  David  &  William  Rollings  return'd  & 
reported  that  they  found  the  dead  body  of  a 
Man  in  the  Main  Fork  of  Bayau  Cossachie, 
it  was  Mostly  under  Water  where  they  be- 
liev'd  at  had  Lain  for  twenty  days  or  more, 
the  water  ran  Clear  &  was  Cool  where  it 
Lay.  I  paid  each  of  them  Six  Dollars 
[  Page  13  ]  I  Summoned  a  Jury  of  Inquest 
and  being  a  Magistrate  myselfe  Acted  as 
Coroner  we  Set  off  this  day  and  Arriv'd  at 
the  House  of  Mr  Edward  Teal  Near  the 
Bayau  Cossachie,  the  distance  from  Natchi- 
toches  by  the  Rout  we  were  oblig'd  to  pur- 
sue on  Ace*  of  Some  Creeks,  the  Nearest 
way  being  not  fordable  was  estimated  at 
about  25  miles,  which  at  Low  water  is  tra- 
vel'd  in  15.  Next  Morning  early  we  Set  off 
again  from  Mr  Teals.  Mr  Teal  &  his  Son 
James  went  with  us,  the  place  where  the 
dead  body  was  being  distant  from  Mr  Teals 
about  15  Miles,  &  his  being  the  Nearest 


INDIAN    NOTES 


INQUEST 

House  to  the  place,  we  found  the  dead  Body 
as  David  &  Rollings  had  left  it,  the  Jury 
were  duly  empannell'd  &  Sworn  Agreable  to 
the  Laws  of  this  Territory,  Six  being  the 
Number  required  by  Law,  &  were,  Edmund 
Teal,  James  Teal,  William  Rollings,  Allen  W. 
Berry,  Pierre  Suricks,  &  Joseph  Eastep,  who 
proceeded  to  examine  the  Subject  before 
them,  the  Head  was  seperated  f  rom  the  body, 
and  was  not  found,  being  a  Bold  runing 
Stream  and  a  smoth  Rock  Bottom  the  Cur- 
rent had  Carried  it  down.  Most  of  the  Other 
parts  of  the  Body  were  found  together  in  a 
decay'd  State,  the  small  Fish  had  work'd  in 
&  destroy 'd  Much  of  the  Flesh,  the  Skin  of 
the  breast,  Belly  and  Arms  was  found  Nearly 
in  a  Sound  State,  through  that  part  of  the 
Skin  that  Cover'd  the  left  side  of  the  Belly 
were  five  holes,  which  the  Jury  were  of  the 
Opinion  were  the  Stabs  of  a  knife,  all  other 
Parts  of  the  body  were  so  decay'd  that 
Marks  of  Violence  were  not  distinguishable, 
there  were  Severa"  Stabs  through  the  left 
Side  of  the  Pantaloons  of  the  Man  re- 
sembling those  through  the  Skin  of  the  Belly. 
The  Jury  took  the  examination  of  Tombolin 


33 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


34 


NATCHITOCHES 


1807. 


and  White  Meat  Two  Chacta  Indians. 
Tombolin  through  William  Rollings  a  sworn 
Interpreter  of  the  Chacta  Language  In- 
form'd  the  Jury  "that  he  had  Just  return'd 
from  the  Conchetta  Village  on  the  Sabine, 
and  that  he  there  Saw  a  Young  Man  of 
that  Nation  who  confess'd  to  him  that  he 
did  Kill  the  Same  White  man  at  the  place 
where  his  Body  was  found,  he  says  the  Indian 
told  him  the  White  Man  had  like  to  have 
been  too  hard  for  him  that  they  had  a  very 
hard  fight,  &  showed  him  his  Thumb  which 
he  said  the  White  man  Bit,  it  was  then  so 
bad  they  thought  he  was  in  danger  of 
loosing  his  hand 

[Page  14]  And  that  One  Side  of  his  face 
was  so  much  bruis'd  he  had  Nearly  lost  his 
eye  and  that  the  Indian  said  it  was  his  own 
fault  for  he  attack'd  the  White  Man  before 
he  had  got  his  knife  ready,  his  gun  was  wet 
he  could  not  get  it  off.  The  Conchetta 
farther  told  Tombolin  as  he  related,  that 
when  he  was  at  Natchitocheswith  the  Chiefs 
Piamingo  &  Red  Shoes  he  wanted  to  Kill  a 
White  Man  in  the  Street,  but  they  would 
not  let  him,  and  that  he  waited  round  the 


INDIAN   NOTES 


INQUEST 

Fort  two  days  to   get    an   opportunity  ol 
Killing  a  Soldier  but  was  disappointed. 

White  Meat  the  Chacta  of  the  family  of 
the  great  Chief  Chapanchaba  deceas'd,  who 
is  well  known  by  a  Number  of  the  Jury 
who  esteem  him  a  Man  of  truth,  he  lives 
at  the  Yan  Cooko  Prarie,  about  twenty 
Miles  from  the  place  where  the  dead  body 
was  found,  towards  the  Conchetta  Village 
on  the  Sabine,  Related  to  the  Jury  the 
following  circumstances,  (viz)  "that  More 
than  a  Moon  ago  a  White  Man  Came  to 
bis  House  who  he  understood  had  come  from 
Oppolousas  &  was  going  to  Nacogdoches, 
tie  was  Leading  a  Roan  Horse  that  Seem'd 
so  Pack'd  or  Loaded  with  goods  that  he 
Could  not  conveniently  Ride,  was  Carrying 
a  Rifle  in  his  hand,  with  a  Deer  Skin  Case 
Over  it,  a  small  Young  Man,  had  on  a 
Round  Black  hat,  a  long  drab  coloured 
Great  Coat,  Leather  Pantaloons  &  New 
Shoes,  and  had  a  good  Countenance,  he  had 
Miss'd  his  way  which  brought  him  past 
the  Prarie  where  he  lives,  he  put  him  into 
the  right  path  which  would  take  him  into  the 
right  Road  Again  Soon  after  he  would  Cross 


35 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


36 


NATCHITOCHES 


1807 


the  Creek  at  the  place  where  the  dead 
Body  was  found,  the  Creek  was  then 
swiming  but  there  was  a  log  a  Cross  it 
Near  the  ford  that  Travellers  Cross'd  On 
&  Swam  their  Horses,  his  description  of 
the  Shoes  &  Pantaloons  the  Man  had  on 
Answered  to  those  the  Jury  found.  White- 
meat  farther  Says  that  Charles  his  son  in 
law  (a  Chacta  half  breed)  [  Page  15  ]  came  to 
his  House  the  same  Night  late  in  the  even- 
ing after  the  White  Man  had  pass'd  and 
told  him  he  was  Coming  from  Natchitoches 
where  he  had  been  to  trade  &  on  his  return 
fell  in  company  with  the  Same  Young  Con- 
chetta  Indian  mentioned  by  Tombolin  who 
Confess'd  the  Murder,  and  were  travelling 
on  together,  and  that  Soon  after  Crossing  the 
Creek  at  the  place  where  the  dead  body  was 
found,  they  met  the  Same  White  Man  who 
he  had  Just  mentioned  having  pass'd  his 
House,  after  they  had  pass'd  the  White  Man 
a  Short  distance  the  Conchetta  stop'd  and 
told  Charles  he  would  turn  back  and  Kill 
the  white  Man,  Charles  told  him  he  should 
not,  for  that  path  was  Clean  &  was  their 
trading  path  &  it  Should  not  be  bloodied,10 


INDIAN    NOTES 


WHITEMEAT    TESTIFIES 


37 


they  pass'd  on  a  small  distance  farther  &  he 
again  propos'd  to  turn  Back  &  kill  the  white 
man,  &  he  again  diswaded  him  from  it,  & 
they  proceeded  on,  at  length  the  Conchetta 
told  Charles  he  had  Occasion  to  Stop  a 
Minute  or  two  &  If  he  would  go  on  Slowly 
he  would  soon  overtake  him,  the  Conchetta 
was  carrying  a  Bundle  of  Goods  belonging 
to  Charles,  they  were  both  riding,  Charles 
went  on  but  Saw  no  more  of  the  Conchetta 
that  day,  and  he  arriv'd  late  at  Night  at  the 
House  of  his  Father  in  Law  alone,  &  told 
him  (Whitemeat)  that  he  was  afraid  he 
had  gone  back  to  kill  the  white  Man  they 
had  Met.  Whitemeat  farther  said  that 
the  Second  day  after,  the  Same  Conchetta 
pass'd  along  by  his  house  without  Calling, 
threw  Charle's  Bundle  Over  the  fence  into 
his  Enclosure,  he  had  a  Naked  Rifle  Barrel 
in  One  hand,  and  the  Other  was  bound  up. 
One  side  of  his  face  was  very  much  Bruis'd, 
he  look'd  very  bad,  pass'd  on  without  Stop- 
ing,  &  Charles  Observ'd  at  the  Same  time 
that  from  his  Conduct  &  Appearance  he 
fear'd  Mischief  had  been  done.  Whitemeat 
farther  Said  that  he  had  been  inform'd  Since 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


38 

NATCHITOCHES 

1807 

by  Several  Conchetta  Indians  that  the  Young 
Man  Confess'd  the  Murder  and  related  all 
the  Circumstances  of  it,   and   that  after 
Killing  him  &  Throwing  him  into  the  Creek 
he  took  all  his  things  &  hid  them  by  [  Page  16  ] 
By  the  Side  of  a  tree,  and  went  away  to 
Camp  being  much  hurt  &  Bruis'd  in  the 
Battle,  and  when  he  return'd  Again   the 
Next  day  the  fire  had  got  to  them  and 
Burnt  them  all  up,  he  found  nothing  re- 
maining but  the  Rifle  Barrel  &  the  Mount- 
ings; White  Meat  farther  said  that  he  had 
been  Since  inform'd  the  Man's  Horse  had 

Peter  M°Daniel  of  Oppelousas  Inform'd 
the  Jury  that  the  Murdered  man  left  Oppo- 
lousas  for  Nacogdoches  with  a  quantity  of 
Merchandize,  that  his  Name  was  Oneal, 
he  was  a  stranger  in  that  Country,  but  had 
been  there  two  or  three  times,  he  understood, 
he  came  from  Some    part    of  Missisippi 
Territory.  — 
The  Jury  made  up  a  verdict  as  their 
Unanimous  Opinion  that  the  Mans  Name 
was  Oneal,  &  that  he  was  Murdered  by  a 

INDIAN   NOTES 

INDIAN    VISITORS 

39 

Conchetta  Indian  of  the  Village  on   the 

River  Sabine.  — 

June  18'. 

Arriv'd  here  this  day  and  ask'd  for  Pro- 

visions, — 

111  Chactas 

The  Chactas  Came 

40  Pascagolas 
33  Appelaches 
5  Caddos 
18  Appelaches  from 
upper  Village. 
15  Pascagolas  from 
Lower  D° 

to  Meet  Tuscatoga 
who  was  to  be  back 
from  the  Caddo's 
this  day,  the  Other 
Indians  Some  of 



them  came  to  hear  if 

223.  Persons 

the  Caddos  &  Chac- 

tas  were  going  to  War,  Others  were  on  their 

way  out  a  hunting  &  wanted  an  Outfit  &c.  — 

Mr   Philebare   the    Interpreter    Return'd 

19'. 

from  the  Caddo  Nation  where  he  had  been 

to  Accompany  Tuscatoga  the  Chacta  Chief, 

&  said  that  Tuscatoga  was  taken  with  a 

fever,  &  he  was  Oblig'd  to  Leave  him  about 

30  Miles  behind,  that  Some  of  his  People 

were  with  him,  &  he  would  come  on  as  soon 

as  he  Could;  that  on  their  Arrival  at  the 

Caddo    Village,    they     found     the    great 

Chief  [Page  17]   Absent;   but  that  Carody 

1807 

the  Old  Chief  receiv'd  them  with  great  Kind- 

ness &  Civility  and  treated  them  as  well  as 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

40 

NATCHITOCHES 

25"  June. 

was  in  his  power,  and  express'd  a  great  desire 
to  be  at  peace  with  the  Chactas,  and  that  the 
Great  Chief  would  Come  to  Natchitoches 
as  soon  as  he  came  home.    And  that  Mes™ 
Lewis,  Watkins  &  Downs  were  on  the  way 
hither  with  a  party  of  Panis  Indians  with  a 
drove  of  Horses,  and  Likewise  the  Nandaco 
Chief  was  coming  to  trade  at  the  factory 

John     S.    Lewis    and    Jeremiah    Downs 
Arriv'd  from  the  Panis  Nation  Accompanied 
by  a  Chief  &  Eight  Men  of  the  Nation,  & 
report   that   they   left  Alexander,  Litton, 
Lusk  &  Lucas  at  the  Panis  Nation  where 
they  Intended    to    remain    Some    Weeks, 
that  they  had  Engag'd  a  party  of  Indians 
to  go  out  with  them  to  Catch  wild  Horses, 
that  they  all  had  been  treated  by  the  v-  hoi 
Panis  Nation  in  the  Most  friendly  manner; 
but  more  especially  by  the  Great  Tawiache 
Chief  the  first  Man  in  the  Nation,  who 
every  body  Speaks  well  of.  —  That  a  party 
with  the  Chief  called  the  Panis  Chief  had 
Lately  Arriv'd  from  S*  Antonio  where  they 
had  been  Invited  by  Governor  Cordero, 
they     return'd     Loaded     with     presents, 

INDIAN   NOTES 

PANIS    AND    HIETANS 


41 


dress'd  in  Laced  Cloaths,  New  Spanish 
Hats,  &  every  Man  of  the  Party  had  re- 
ceiv'd  a  present  of  a  Spanish  Saddle,  &  two 
or  three  Horses,  or  Mules,  and  the  Governor 
sent  by  them  Three  Stands  of  Spanish 
Colours  One  for  each  Village;  but  that  the 
Great  Chief  would  Suffer  none  of  them 
to  be  hoisted;  but  used  the  Colours  of 
the  United  States  which  I  gave  him;  he 
requested  Mr  Lewis  to  tell  me  he  wanted 
two  Other  Stands  of  American  Colours  that 
each  Village  Might  have  One.  Mr  Lewis 
Visited  a  Hietan  Camp  then  about  40 
Miles  from  the  Panic  Towns,  by  the  Invita- 
tion of  a  Hietan  Chief  who  came  to  the  Panis, 
he  believes  the  Camp  Contained  more  than 
Two  Thousand  persons,  and  that  they  had 
not  less  than  five  Thousand  Horses  &  Mules, 
Some  of  them  remarkable  fine  Animals,  he 
was  treated  by  the  Hietans  with  Great 
[  Page  18]  Civility,  he  bought  a  few  Horses  of 
them,  but  had  only  a  few  trifling  Articles  of 
Goods  with  him.  The  great  Chief  told  him 
he  Intended  to  come  to  Natchitoches  in  a 
Short  time,  the  Great  Tawiache  Chief  had 
promis'd  to  Accompany  him,  and  that  he 


1807 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


42 


NATCHITOCHES 


(the  Hietan)  had  been  to  S*  Antonio  and 
receiv'd  Some  presents  from  Governor 
Cordero.  Mr  Lewis  Saw  Some  Specimens 
of  Silver  Ore  which  was  found  in  great 
quantities  on  the  N°  East  side  of  Red  River 
above  the  Panis  Nation,  which  he  believes 
to  be  Rich,  he  believes  the  distance  from 
Natchitoches  to  the  Panis  Nation  to  be 
about  600  miles  and  in  Nearly  a  Northwest 
direction.  Mr  Lewis  thinks  the  Praries 
through  which  he  travelled  are  generally  a 
very  Rich  Soil,  &  that  the  Country  from 
Natchitoches  to  the  Boi  d'Arc  Creek, 
Near  the  Panis  will  all  admit  of  thick  & 
Valuable  Settlements,  and  that  Scattering 
Ones  may  be  made  as  far  as  the  Nation, 
that  Copses  of  Wood  are  always  to  be 
Seen  in  the  Praries  and  the  lands  on  all  the 
Water  Courses  are  well  timbered.  In 
coming  from  the  Panis  they  lay'd  their 
course  so  far  south  that  they  fell  in  upon  the 
head  Branches  of  the  Braces,  Trinity  & 
Sabine  Rivers,  Some  of  which  head  within 
25  or  30  Miles  of  the  Red  River. 


INDIAN    NOTES 


MORE   MURDER 

43 

I  gave  the  Panis  Provisions  a  Kittle,  & 

each  of  them  a  Comb.  Looking  Glass  &  Some 

Vermilion  on  their  Arrival. 

Big  head  the  Nandaco  Chief  and  a  Party 

26'. 

of  15  hunters  Arriv'd  with  Skins  to  trade  in 

*u«  f     f             /"*"„  ,«  fi         D_».»n;»«r, 

tne  lactory.     dave  tnem  ±  revisions. 

I  gave  likewise  An  Order  to  the  Gunsmith 

for  the  reparation  of  the  Nandacos  Guns. 

[  Page  19]  This  day  I  had  a  talk  with  Tom- 

1807 

bolin  &  the  relations  of  the  Indian  who  was 

June  27 

Killed  by  Thomas  at  Bayau  Chico  hi  the 

County  of  Oppolousas,  they  Insist  that  the 

Indian  was  Killed  by  Thomas  without  pro- 

vocation and  that  satisfaction  Ought  to  be 

made  for  it,  they  say  he  was  a  Young  Man  a 

good  hunter  and  had  his  Mother  &  Sister  to 

maintain  who  had  no  other  relation  to  depend 

upon,  and  that  Thomas  had  hired  the  witnes- 

ses who  were  knowing  to  the  Circumstances 

of  the  Murder  to  go  away,  and  that  Judge 

Collins  instead  of  doing  his  duty  and  bringing 

Thomas  to  punishment  had  done  all  in  his 

power  to  Screen  him;  After  I  had  Convers'd 

with  them  some  time  they  promised  me  that 

they  would  take  satisfaction  of  no  one  but 

Thomas,  that  so  far  from  hurting  his  wife 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

44 

NATCHITOCHES 

&  Children  they  would  divide  their  Veni- 
son with  them.    I  sent  to  the  Mother  & 
Sister  of  the  deceas'd  Indian  Eight  Yards 
of  Callico  &  two  Shawls  to  be  divided  be- 
tween them 
I  gave  Tuscatoga  the  things  that  were 
allotted  for  one  of  the  Indians  who  was  to 
have  gone  with  him  to  the  Caddo  Nation  & 
who  failed  to  go,  and  also  a  flap  of  Blue 

Gave  the  Panis  who    Came   in  with    Mr 
Lewis  the  following  Presents  (viz).  8  Tin 
Kittles,  8  Tin  Cups,  8  Stroud  Blankets,  8 
Braggys,  &  flaps,   8  Handkfs,  8  Parcels  of 
Paint,  6lb  Lead  llb  Powder,    8    Knives, 
1   Comb  more,  32    Yards  Red    Binding, 
8  Hatchets,  8  Tobacco  Boxes,  7  Hoes,  1 
Powder  Horn  2  ounces  of  Verdigrease  and 
two  Carrots  of  Tobacco;  and  Sent  by  them 
for  the  Great  Chief  particularly  to   engage 
his  attention  to  Captain  Pikes  Party  who 
were  then  expected  to  arrive  at  the  Panis 
Village,  the  following  articles    (viz)    12lb 
Powder  25  lb  Lead,  2  Yards  Scarlet  Cloth, 
4  Blankets,  2  Hats,  2  Plumes  6  Knives,  1  Tin 
Kittle,  2  Guns,  6  Combs,  2  Hoes,  1  Hatchet, 

INDIAN   NOTES 

HORSE    STEALING 

45 

2lb    Vermilion    1    Black    Silk   Handkf,    1 
Red  D°    1    doz   Gun  flints  200  Wampum 
Beeds  &  2  Carrots  of  Tobacco. 
The  Panis  took  their  departure,  one  of 
them  was  Taken  Sick  and  di'd  on  his  way 

1807 
July  12". 

[  Page  20]  Charles  a  Chacta  half  Breed  with 
three  or  four  Other  Chactas  Indians,  Presen- 
ted themselves  and  complain'd  that  one  of 
them  had  near  the  River  Sabine  been  Rob'd 
of  a  Valuable  Mare  the  property  of  him 
(Charles)  by  a  Man  by  the  Name  of  James 
Elliott,  and  demanded  that  Elliott  Should 
be  compel'd  to  restore  the  Mare  or    they 
would  go  out  Kill  him  and  Take  her,  the 
Indians  Said  at  the  Same  time  they  knew 
Elliott  to  be  a  bad  Man  for  he  had  try'd  to 
perswade  them   to   Join   him   in   Stealing 

I    thought    proper    to    Issue    a    States 
Warrant  which  I  directed  to  David  Allen  a 
Non  Commission'd  officer  of  the  Natchi- 
toches  Troop  of  Horses,  derecting  him  to 
Summon  Six  Men  of  the  Troop  to  be  well 
equip'd    &  Mounted   to  go  Out   &   take 
Elliott  &  his  Accomplices  who  were  Said  to 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

46 

NATCHITOCHES 

July  21' 

be  7  or  8  who  had  encamp'd  themselves 
between  the  Adaize  and  the  Sabine,  &  were 
Stealing,  &  Collecting  together  all  the 
Horses  they  Could,  bidding  defiance  to  all 
Authority  Under  pretence  of  being  on 
Neutral  Ground.  The  Party  went  Out 
Accordingly  found  the  Camp,  took  Elliot 
&  Eighteen  Horses  and  brought  them  into 
Natchitoches  Amongst  them  was  the  Indians 
Mare  who  was  given  up  to  him.  Several 
other  of  the  Horses  were  Stolen  from 
Inhabitants  which  were  prov'd  &  given 
up;  and  Elliot  was  Committed  to  Jail  for 
trial,  but  broke  out  the  Same  day  and  made 
his  escape;  the  propriety  of  my  Sending  a 
Warrant  beyond  the  Rio  honda  was  made 
a  question,  and  agitated  with  Some  warmth, 
&  was  the  Subject  of  a  representation  to 
Governor  Claiborn,  who  had  the  Goodness 
to  write  me  politely  upon  it,  highly  appro- 

I  employ'd  William  Rollings  to  go  with 
a  Special  Message  to  the  Conchetta  Village 
Near  the  Aceokesaws  in  the  Dominions  of 
Spain  relative  to  the  Murder  of  Obryan  by 
a  Conchetta  Indian  About  the  latter  end  of 

INDIAN    NOTES 

O'NEAL'S    MURDER 


47 


the  Month  of  May  last  on  the  Bayau 
Cossachie,  to  request  the  Chiefs  to  give  up 
the  Murderer,  to  come  in  themselves  in  a 
peacable  &  friendly  Manner  and  they  Shall 
be  well  receiv'd. — 
[Page  21]  Receiv'd  duplicate  Packets  from  1807 
Governor  Claiborne  enclosing  a  Talk  to  the 
Caddo  Chief,  and  Another  to  the  Conchettas, 
and  his  Excellencys  Proclamation  for  appre- 
hending Watson  who  killed  Indian  Tom  at 
the  Salt  Works.  I  had  requested  the  Gover- 
nor to  Issue  this  Proclamation  in  the  Month 
of  January  last,&  furnished  him  with  depo- 
sitions of  the  fact,  Description  of  Watsons 
Person  &c.  he  inform'd  me  he  was  so  much 
Occupied  he  could  not  find  time  to  attend  to 
it;  after  Obryan  was  killed  &  it  being 
Suggested  to  the  Governor  that  this  Murder 
would  not  have  hapened  If  Watson  had  been 
Apprehended  &  tried,  and  that  Watson 
had  been  some  time  on  Washita  &  might 
have  been  Caught  if  his  proclamation  had 
not  have  been  delay'd,  it  was  Issued  to  no 
purpose. — 

The  same  day  the  Huani  Chacta  Chief  & 
a  pretty  large  Party  of  Chacta  Indians 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


48 

NATCHITOCHES 

Aug*  9'. 

Arriv'd.    They    brought  in  a  Small  Bay 
American    Rais'd  Horse  which   they  had 
Taken  as  a  Stray  delivered  him  to  me  & 
Ask'd  a  Compensation  for  bringing  him  in 
knowing  as  they  said  he  belong'd  to  Some 
American  they  said  they  found  him  Amongst 
Some  Wild  Horses  Near  the  River  Sabine. 
John  Nichols  lately  of  Natchez  Appear  'd 
&  Claim  'd  the  Horse  &  Said  he  had  a  Short 
time  before  lent  him  to  a  friend  of  his  from 
Natchez  to  Ride  to  the  Sabine  who  was 
still  there  &  Probably  hunting  the  Horse. 
On  examination  a  Musquet  or  Rifle  Ball 
had  been  Shot  through  the  Horses  Neck, 
the  Indians  Confess'd  they  had  Shott  him 
in  Order  to  Catch  him  they  Intended  only 
to  Creese  him;  but  the  Rifle  not  being  pro- 
perly Charg'd  the  Ball  fell  too  Low  &  went 

Mr  Nichols    Appear  'd   Much   exasperated 
about  it,  and  I  advis'd  the  Indians  to  Com- 
promise it  with  him  by  giving  him  Another 
Horse,  and  they  after  Considerable  difficulty 

The  great  Caddo  Chief  Arriv'd  and  Gave 
information    that    about    Three    hundred 

INDIAN    NOTES 

INDIAN   VISITORS 

49 

Indians  of  different  Nations  were  on  their 
way  and  would  be  here  tomorrow,  he  said 
there  were  some  of  the  Hietans,  Tawakenoes, 
Keychies,  Inies,  Xabedaches,  Nacogdochet- 
tas,  Aiche,  Nandacos,    with  Some  Caddos, 
Adaize,    Yattassees,    &    Natchitoches 
[  Page  22  ]    Eighty  Hietans  &  four  Great 
Chiefs  arriv'd     Gave    them  Provisions  & 
Cooking  Utensils,  &  Some  Tobacco  &  to  the 
Chiefs  the  following  Articles,  (viz)  4  Hats, 
4  Plumes,  4  Callico    Shirts,    4  Parcels   of 
Paint,  4  Braggys.  (Britch  Clouts)  4  Looking 
Glasses,  4  Knives,  4  Black  Silk  Handkfs, 

1807 
Aug*  11. 

The  Same  day  arriv'd  the  Inie  Chief  & 
a  Party  of  16  of  that  Nation.     Gave  them 

Invited  the  four  Hietan  Chiefs  to  my 
House,    Entertain'd    them,     Gave    them 
Tobacco,    Smok'd  with  them  &c.  Offered 
them  Spirits,  which  they  refus'd;  but  were 
very  fond  of  a  Sweet  Drink  made  of  Honey 
or  Molasses  &  Water,  Sent  for  a  Taylor  & 
had  them  Measured  each  of  them  for  a 
Scarlet  Coat  faced  with  Black  Velvet  & 
trim'd   with  white  Buttons,  they  wanted 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

50 


NATCHITOCHES 


13'. 


them  made  like  the  Caddo  Chief's  which  I 
gave  him,  the  Nandaco  Chief  had  one  made 
in  the  Same  Fasion,  the  Cloth  he  bought 
himselfe.  I  Gave  him  the  Making  and 

Trimings. 

Arriv'd  Parties  of  Tawakenoes,  Keychies, 
Nabedaches,  Nacogdoches,  Nandacos, 
Aiche,  Adaize,  Yattassees,  &  Natchitoches, 
with  the  Chiefs  of  all  these  Nations,  Gave 
them  Provisions  &  Some  Cooking  Utensels. 
The  Indians  altogether  having  Nearly  four 
hundred  Horses  the  Commons  of  Natchi- 
toches from  the  Long  drouth  affording  no 
Sustenance  for  them  &  for  fear  they  would 
Stray  off  be  Stolen  &  lost,  (the  country  being 
full  of  persons  of  Suspicious  Character) 
&  the  Indians  particularly  the  Hietans  who 
have  the  Most  Horses  being  Accustom'd  to 
Praries  &  no  woodsmen,  in  searching  their 
Horses  in  the  woods  would  probably  get 
lost  themselves.  I  hired  three  men  to  take 
the  Horses  a  few  Miles  distant  to  where  food 
was  Plenty  and  Guard  them,  they  did 
so  Notwithstanding  which  Twenty  five  of 
their  Horses  were  Missing  &  believ'd  to 
be  Stolen,  the  Men  Pen'd  them  every  Night 


INDIAN   NOTES 


INDIAN   ARRIVALS 

51 

&  Camp'd   Near  them,  one  Night  in  a 
Thunderstorm  the  Pen  was  broke  down  & 
the  Horses  were  Scattered,  and 
[  Page  23  ]    Never  were  all  Collected  after- 
wards; they  inform'd  me  two  Men  Came  one 
Night  to  Steal  Horses  Caught  two  &  were 
going  off  with  them,  they  rescued  the  Horses, 
but  the  Men  made  their  escape,  they  said 
they  were  English,  one  of  them  lost  his  hat.  — 
This  morning  the  Interpreter  return'd  the 
following  Number  of  Indians  who  wanted 

1807 
Aug*  14'. 

Hietans  80    Some  of  those  Tribes 

Tawakenos  18    who  live  in  the  Vicin- 

Keychies  .  .               .  .8    it\r    mor<»    Vi*»r<»   Hut 

Nabedaches.  .         ..45    j;j    ,          A^^K*    t~~ 

aid    not    Apply   lor 
Caddos  .  .                 .  .  90    T.       •  •         ^i_          i 

Provisions,  they  only 
Nandacos  34     „ 

Inies..                    ..16    Came      t0    See    the 

Nacogdochettos  24    Strangers  who  Never 
Chickesaws  4    were     here     bef°re, 

and  Never  had  been 

This  day  I  Invited  the  Two  great  Tawakeno 
Chiefs  to  my  House  &  entertain'd  them, 
they  Never  were  here  before  or  had  seen 
any  Officer  or  United  States  Agent.    I  ex- 

Aug*  17': 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

52 


NATCHITOCHES 


press'd  to  them  the  Satisfaction  I  felt  at 
receiving  this  friendly  Visit  from  them;  & 
that  their  Great  Father  &  friend  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  would  hear  of  it 
with  Satisfaction  also;  in  whose  Name  &  as 
a  Token  of  his  friendship  &  good  will  to- 
wards them,  I  had  a  few  things  to  present 
them.  I  then  gave  Each  of  them  an  officers 
full  trim'd  Regimental  Coat,  blue  &  Buff 
with  appulets  &  Lace,  each  of  them  a  Hat  & 
Plume,  a  Shirt,  a  Gorget,  On  which  I  had 
engrav'd  the  Eagle,  &  the  United  States  of 
America  in  words  enclosing  it,  a  Braggy. 
4  yds  Binding,  a  Looking  Glass,  a  Knife,  & 
two  parcels  of  vermilion,  &  to  their  two 
wives  each  of  them,  a  Scarlet  flap,  a  Pair 
of  Scissors,  200  Wampum  Beeds,  1  doz 
Needles,  a  Pair  Ear  Jewels,  4  oa  Thread, 
a  Snuff  Box,  a  Handkf,  a  Looking  Glass, 
2  yds  Callico,  a  Comb,  &  4  oz  Vermilion,  and 
Divided  Amongst  the  Party  of  Tawakenoes, 
20  Hatchets,  10  hoes,  25  Knives,  9  Handkfs, 
8  Braggys  or  flaps,  3  oz  Vermilion,  4lb  Beeds 
2  Pair  Scissors,  2  doz  Needles,  2  oz  Thread, 
4  yds  Callico,  2  Glasses,  2  Combs,  &  One 
Piece  Red  binding. 


INDIAN    NOTES 


GIFTS    TO    INDIANS 


53 


I  Page  24  ]  I  gave  a  particular  friendly  In- 
dian &  his  wife  a  Keychie  Woman,  he  is 
brother  to  the  Great  Tawiache  or  Panis  Chief 
had  been  here  before  he  came  as  a  Guide  to 
the  Strangers,  the  following  Presents  (viz). 
1  Stroud  Blanket,  1  Handkf.  a  Braggy,  a 
Looking  Glass,  a  Comb,  4OZ  Vermilion 

1  Ib.  Beeds  a  Bell,  a  Tin  Cup,  4  yds  Binding,  a 
Callico  Shirt  a  Knife  &  a  Corn  Hoe. — 
Same  day  Receiv'd  the  Keychie  Chief  and 
his  Party,  Gave  them  friendly  Words,  with 
Tobacco,  Sweet  drink  &c.  and  the  following 
Presents  (viz),  for  the  Chief  a  Hat  &  Plume, 
a  Scarlet  Blanket,  a  Knife,  a  Parcel  Ver- 
milion a  looking  Glass  a  Braggy,  a  Hatchet, 
a  Hoe  &  a  Handkf.-&  divided  amongst  his 
party,  5  Braggys  &  flaps,  5  Knives,  5  Hoes. 

2  Pieces   binding  2lb  Vermilion,  2lb  beeds 
2  Pair  Scissors,  1 oz  Thread  1  doz.  Needles. 
Receiv'd  at  my  House    the  whol  of  the 
Hietan  Party  with  the  4  Great  Chiefs  and 
made   them   the  following  Presents,  (viz. — 
for  the  four  Chiefs  &  their  wives,  4  Scarlet 
Coats,  faced  with  Black  Velvet  &  Trim'd 
with  Large  Plated  Buttons,  4  Scarlet  Blan- 
kets, 4  Bells,  4lb  Vermilion,  4  white  IIP* 


1807 


IK" 


17. 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


54 

NATCHITOCHES 

1807 
Aug*    18'. 

Blankets,  4  Tommehawk  Pipes,  4lbBeeds 
4   Tin   Cups.    4   Pieces   Binding   4    Pair 
Scissors  2  oz  Thread,  4  doz.  Needles,  2  doz. 
Knives,  8  fire  Steels,  3  doz  flints  4  lb  Pow- 
der, 8  lb  Lead,  2  Guns,  1  Pair  Bullet  Molds, 
one  United  States  flag.    And  for  the  Party 
divided  amongst  them  by  the  Interpreter, 
40  stroud  &  white  Blankets,   52   flaps  & 
Braggys,   52   Knives,    40    Tin   Cups,   8lb 
Beeds,  4  Pieces  Binding  20  Hatchets,  20 
fire  Steels,  4  doz.  flints,  14  Horse  Bells,  52 
Handkfs,  1  lb  Thread,  4  doz  Needles,  14  Pair 

As  the  Hietans  were  about  taking  their 
departure   after   receiving   their   presents, 
the  Principal   Chief  produced   a   Spanish 
Flag  and  Lay'd  it  down  at  my  feet,  and  de- 
sired the  Interpreter  to  tell  me,  "that  he 
receiv'd  that  Flag  from  Govr  Cordero  of 
S*  Antonio,  &  wish'd  now  to  exchange  it 
for  a  flag  of  the  United  States,  that  it  might 
be  known  in  their  Nation 
[  Page  25  ]  I  told  him  we  were  not  at  War 
with  Spain  and  had  no  disposition  to  offend 
them,  Otherwise  I  should  have  Anticipated 
his  request    by    Presenting    him    with    a 

INDIAN   NOTES 

THE    HIETANS 

55 

United  States  flag   before,    but  it  might 
offend  the  Spanish  Gov*  and  be  in  the  end 
disadvantageous  to  them;  he  said  "they 
were  very  desirous  of  having  Our  Flag  and 
it  was  the  Same  to  them  whether  Spain  was 
pleas'd  or  displeas'd   and  if  I  would  give 
him  One  it  Should  wave  through  all  the 
Hietan  Nation,  and  they  would  all  die  in 
defence  of  it  before  they  would  part  with  it, 
I  had  a  flag  brought  which  Major  Freeman 
had  left  with  me,  I  first  rap'd  it  round  My- 
selfe,  gave  it  to  him  he  did  the  Same,  & 
embraced  it  with  Great  earnestness  in  Pre- 
sence of  all  his  People,  and  a  Number  of 
other  Chiefs  haranging  them  at  the  Same 
time  in  a  Loud  Voice,  I  at  the  Same  time 
Presented  him  with  an  Elegant  Belt  which 
I  had  worn  myselfe,  &  took  it  off  &  put  it 
on  him  which  had  a  good  Effect,  as  it  was 
done  in  Presence  of  a  Large  Number  of  In- 

I  augmented  the  Presents  to  the  Hietans 
by  the  advice  of  Cap*  Pike  who  was  then 
here,  who  inform'd  me  that  on  his  Tour  he 
was  Instructed  if  he  could  fall  in  with  Any 
party  of  Hietans  to  hold  a  treaty  with  them 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

56 


NATCHITOCHES 


1807. 
August  18* 


and  make  them  Some  presents,  that  Our 
Gov*  were  desirous  of  being  in  Amity  with 
them,  &  this  he  believ'd  was  the  first 
Occasion  that  had  ever  Offered  to  Any 
Officer  or  Agent  of  the  United  States  to 
affect  it,  their  loosing  so  Many  Horses 
likewise  while  they  were  here  was  another 
Consideration;  and  I  was  determined  they 
should  not  go  away  dissatisfied  if  by  any 

reasonable  Means  I  could  avoid  it. 

I  regretted  that  it  was  not  in  my  power  to 
have  taken  a  Vocabulary  of  their  Language, 
there  were  so  many  different  Nations  here 
at  the  Same  time  I  was  Incessantly  Occupied 
Amongst  them,  and  had  no  good  Interpreter 
of  their  Language,  &  the  Chief  assured  me  I 
Should  have  Another  Opportunity. — 
[Page  26]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Chiefs  and 
Head  Men  of  the  following  Nations  of  In- 
dians at  a  Grand  Council  held  at  Natchi- 
toches  the  Eighteenth  day  of  August  1807. 
(viz)  Hietans,  Caddos,  Tawakenoes,  Nanda- 
cos,Nabedaches,  Keychies,  Inies,andAiche, 
all  being  met  &  Seated  in  the  Great  Council 
Room,  the  Calumet  &  Council  fire  lighted. 


INDIAN    NOTES 


SPEECH    TO    INDIANS 


57 


I  delivered  to  them  the  following  talk. 

Brothers, 

By  Arangements  with  France 
and  Spain  two  Nations  beyond  the  great 
Water  we  the  people  of  the  United  States 
have  become  your  Neighbours,  and  all  the 
great  Country  Called  Louissiana  as  formerly 
Claim'd  by  France  now  belongs  to  us,  the 
President  of  the  United  States  the  great 
friend  &  father  of  all  the  Red  people  Assures 
you  he  is  your  friend  and  will  Continue  to 
be  so,  so  long  as  you  are  his  friends,  &  friends 
to  the  People  of  the  United  States.  It  is 
now  so  long  since  our  Ancestors  came  from 
beyond  the  great  Water  that  we  have  no 
remembrance  of  it,  we  ourselves  are  Natives 
of  the  Same  land  that  you  are,  in  other 
words  white  Indians,  we  therefore  Should 
feel  &  live  together  like  brothers  &  Good 
Neighbours,  we  Should  do  no  harm  to  One 

Another  but  all  the  good  in  our  power. 

Brothers,  the  boundaries  between  Our 
Country  and  Spain  are  not  yet  fixed,  we 
therefore  do  not  know  how  far  towards  the 
Setting  Sun  Our  Limits  will  extend;  but  you 
may  rest  Assured  that  whether  the  Country 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


58 

NATCHITOCHES 

1807 
Aug.  18' 

t 

that  you  inhabit  falls  within  Our  Bounda- 
ries or  not,  it  will  always  be  Our  wish  to  be 
at  peace  &  friendship  with  you;  we  are  not 
at  war  with  Spain,  we  therefore  do  not  wish, 
or  Ask  you  to  be  less  their  friends  for  being 
Ours,  the  World  is  wide  enough  for  us  all, 
and  we  Ought  all  of  us  to  live  in  it  like 
brothers, 
Brothers,  I  think  I  ought  to  Caution  you 
Against  Opening  Your   Ears  to    the  bad 
talks  of  Any  people  whatever  who  may 
[Page  27]  Wish  to  make  us  enemies;  but  be 
always  perswaded  that  we  have  not  Come  to 
this  Country  to  do  harm  to  Any  of  our  Red 

It  is  the  wish  of  your  great  &  good  Father 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  that  all 
his  red  Children   should   live  together  in 
peace  And  Amity  with  one  Another,  that 
all  their  paths  may  be  Clean,  that  there  may 
be  no  more  wars  between  them,  that  their 
Children  may  Multiphy,  &  their  women  no 
more  fear  the  Tommehawk  of  an  enemy. 
Brothers,  I  am  wellpleas'd  with  this  friendly 
visit  from  you,  as  you  have  come  a  long 
Journey  to  see  your  New  Neighbours,  it  is 

INDIAN    NOTES 

SPEECH   TO    INDIANS 

59 

my  wish  that  you  rest  yourselves  a  few  days 

&  Accept  of  Our  hospitality  in  Such  as  we 

have  to  offer  you,  and  a  few  Presents  which 

I  shall  present  you  in  the  name  of  your 

great  Father  the  President  of  the  United 

States,  as  a  token  of  his  good  Will  towards 

you;  and  as  you  have  now  found  the  way 

here,  you  will  be  enclin'd  to  'come  again, 

and  that  we  shall  find  we  can  trade  together 

for  our  mutual  advantage,  you  will  always 

find  here  Such  articles  of  Merchandize  as 

you  may  want,  for  which  you  can  exchange 

your  Horses,  Mules,  Robes,  and  Silver  Ore, 

and  when  any  of  our  people  visit  you  in 

your  own  Country  you  will  receive  them 

as  friends,  as  we  will  any  of  your  nation  who 

visit  us,  I  should  be  glad  that,  some  of  you 

would  go  some  days  Journey  farther  into  our 

Country,  that  you  may  know  more  of  it, 

and  be  better  Acquainted  with  our  people, 

your  great  father  the  President  would  be 

^IrtxJ      4-n      r,nf*     ,r^,-. 

glcLCl  tO  See  yOU. 

Brothers,   these  are   the  Words  I  "have 

to  say  to  you,  when  you  return  to  your 

friends,    tell   them   we    take  them  all  by 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

60 


NATCHITOCHES 


1807 
Aug*.  18 


the  hand,  repeat  to  them  our  words  and 
forget  us  not. — 

[  Page  28  ]  The  first  Tawakeno  Chief  replied, 
"  Time  will  determine  whether  this  days  Talk 
will  prove  true,  as  for  us,  I  believe  we  all 
have  the  Same  Opinion  about  it,  I  am  well 
pleas'd  with  your  Words  which  you  have 
this  day  Spoken  to  us,  they  Shall  not  be 
lost,  we  will  Carry  them  home  with  us  to  our 
Nation  and  repeat  them  to  Our  Women  & 
Children,  there  shall  be  none  Amongst  us 
who  shall  not  know  them,  it  will  gladden  their 
hearts  to  hear  them  as  it  now  does  ours,  as 
we  have  now  Visited  you  it  would  afford  us 
great  Satisfaction  if  some  of  your  Nation 
would  Visit  us,  that  we  might  become 
better  acquainted,  and  afford  us  an  Oppor- 
tunity to  prove  the  truth  of  our  professions, 
and  we  Invite  them  to  Come  &  trade  with 
us,  it  is  not  our  Custome  to  Sell  provisions 
to  our  friends  who  visit  us  like  some  other 
Nations,  &  when  Any  of  your  people  come  to 
see  us  they  will  find  it  so. 

But  there  is  a  Man  of  your  Nation,  he 
comes  from  Nacogdoches  who  is  a  trader 
Amongst  us,  he  is  too  dear  with  his  goods. 


INDIAN    NOTES 


HIETAN   SPEECH 

61 

If  he  is  one  of  your  Nation  Cant  you  write 
him  a  letter  a  direct  him  not  to  impose  so 
much  upon  us,  and  make  him  sell  his  goods 
to  us  Cheaper. 
I  replied  to  him  that  I  knew  Nothing  of 
that  man  If  he  belonged  to  Nacogdoches, 
that    though   he   might   have   been   born 
Amongst  us  they  Should  now  regard  him  as  a 
Spaniard,  and  If  he  had  turn'd  Spaniard  we 
would  have  Nothing  to  do  with  him.  but  I 
trusted  when  any  of  our  people  who  were 
fitted   out   from   this  place   should   come 
Amongst  them  as  traders  they  would  have 

1807 
Aug*.  18' 

An  Hietan  Said  "their  best.  Speaker  was 
absent  he  went  out  to  where  their  Horses 

"From  the  Moment  (said  he)  we  heard  of 
the  Americans  being  Arriv'd  at  this  place 
we  were  determined  to  come  &  see  them  our 
New  Neighbours;  and  we  are  now  all  of  us 
highly  pleas'd  that  we  have  Come,  on  Our 
way  we  fell  in  with  Some  of  Our  friends  who 
came  Along  to  Accompany  us,  we  are  in 
want  of  Merchandize  and  Shall  be  Always 
[Page  29]  Glad  to  trade  with  you  on  friendly 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

62 

NATCHITOCHES 

terms,  and  now  we  have  found  the  way  &  see 

that  you  have   every   thing  we  want  we 

mil  11  nrnln'hlv  vi^it"  vmi  Tin  in 

The  Keychie  Chief. 

The  first  messenger  you  Sent  to  the  Panis 

our  friends  Inform'd   us  you  were    here, 

and  that  you  wish'd  to   see  some  of  all 

those  Nations   who  liv'd   at    a   distance. 

Since  that  time  it  has  been  Our  determina- 

tion to  come  &  see  you  we  have  Accordingly 

made  you  this  friendly  visit,  to  let  you 

know  our  wants  &  to  see  how  we  can  be 

Servisable  to  each  Other,  I  am  charm'd  with 

the  words  which  I  have  heard  you  this  day 

Speak,  &  that  I  have  heard  them  myselfe 

from  your  Own  Mouth,  &  in  your  own  House 

for  I  am  now  Standing  before  you  on  your 

own  Floor,  although  I  live  in  the  domin- 

ion  of  Another   Nation,    that   makes   no 

difference,    I  receive  your  talk  like  a  bro- 

ther, and  wish  to  live  with  you  in  future  in 

peace   &   friendship   as  good  Neighbours, 

and  I  promise  you  that  our  Nation  Shall 

be  the  last  who  will  transgress  the  treaty 

of  this  day.     I  hope  we  Shall  be  better 

Acquainted,  that  we  Shall  trade  together 

INDIAN   NOTES 

CADDO    SPEECH 

63 

for  our  Mutual  Advantage,  and  when  you 

know  our  wants  will  be  able  to  be  of  service 

to  us. 
The  Great  Caddo  Chief. 

"These  Strangers  who  were  never  before 

here  have  through  me  heard  much  of  you, 

I  was  happy  in  having  an  Opportunity  to 

Accompany  them  hither,  and  to  witness 

that  you  have  receiv'd  &  treated  them  as  I 

told  them  you  would.    It  gives  me  great 

Satisfaction  to  find  that  none  of  them  Can 

Say  I  have  deceiv'd  them;  but  had  I  not 

have  made  you  this  Visit  as  a  duty  I  owed 

my  friend,  to  bear  them  Company,  I  should 

have  been  CompelTd  to  have  come  from 

Another  cause.    The  Tribes  my  Allies  and 

friends  Complain  of  me  for  the  peace  I 

made  with  the  Chactas,  they  say  it  was  of 

my  Own  Accord.    I  wish  now  to  convince 

them  the  Contrary 

.  Page  30]   That  Changing  Our  father  made 

1807 

it  Necessary,  &  that  I  acted  in  Obedience 

Aug*.  18*. 

to  your  wish.     I  have  explain'd    to   my 

:riends  the  Conditions  of  the  treaty,  that 

whoever  broke  it  Should  make  restitution. 

The  Chactas  have  broke  it  by  committing 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

64 

NATCHITOCHES 

two  Murders,  and  we  have  come  here  this 

day  to  see  whether  the    treaty  is  to  be 

luitiiicci  or  not.                      ~ 
I  explain'd  to  them  the  Necessity  of  the 

Peace  that  it  was  made  on  fair  &  honourable 

terms  for  their  general  good,  that  it  was  the 

Wish  of  their  great  &  good  Father  the  Presi- 

dent of  the  U.  S.  that  all  his  red  Children 

Should  be  at  peace  with  One  Another,  & 

that  as  soon  as  I  was  inform  'd  that  two  Nan- 

daco  Women  had  been  killed  by  a  party  of 

Chactas,    I    sent  &  Collected  together  all 

the  Chiefs  and  head  Men  of  that  Nation 

that  were  to  be  found  on  this  Side  of  the 

Missisippi.   they  Assembled  here.    I  repre- 

sented to  them  in  the  Strongest  terms,  the 

Unprovok'd  Barbarous,  &    Cowardly  Act 

that  had  been  Committed  by  a  party  of 

Chactas  from  the  great  Nation,  they  all 

disavow'd  the  Act,  were  Alarm'd    &  dis- 

tress'd  at  it;  I  propos'd  to  them  to  send 

immediately    Messengers    to    the    Caddo 

Nation,  with  friendly  Assurances,  and  dis- 

claiming all  knowledge  or  Approbation  of 

the  Murders,  and  that  they  Should  do  all 

they    Could    to    have    restitution    made 

INDIAN    NOTES 

PEACE    ADVISED 

65 

Agreeable  to  the  Stipulations  of  the  treaty, 
and  that  the  Chactas  that  were  here  met 
seem'd  to  feel  an  equal  degree  of  resent- 
ment Against  the  Violators  of  their  Peace 
with  the  Caddos  &  Nandacos  themselves, 
And  that  the  Chief  Chechemastubby  was  Ap- 
pointed to  repair  to  the  great  Nation  with 
the    Accusation    Against    the    Murderers 
who  had  fled  thither,  he  did  set  off,  was 
taken   Sick,   the     Waters     were     high   & 
travelling  was  difficult,  &  I  thought  they 
Ought  to  have  patience  Some  time  longer, 
&  not  make  the  Innocent  Suffer  for  the 
Guilty,   and  that   I  had  heard   that  that 
party  who  Committed  the  Murders  were 
by  the  great  Nation  deem'd  Vagabones, 
and  it  was  probable  they  might  not  make  a 

1807 
Aug*  18* 

[Page  31]   The    Chief   replied,    "that    he 
thought  there  had  been  time  enough  Since 
the  Murders  were  Committed  to  have  had 
Something  done  about  it,   that  he  Could 
readily  believe  they  were  Vagabones;  but 
they  were  their  own  Vagabones,  and  that 
Other  Nations  punish'd  Such  Vagabones  in- 
stead of  protecting  them,  but  he  had  been 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

66 

NATCHITOCHES 

Inform'd  that  the  Leader  of  that  Party 
(Called  Stamelachee)  had  not  long  Ago  been 
Commission'd  by  the    American   Gov*.  a 
Chief.  And  Unless  the  Chactas  gave  him  up 
&  had  him  Punished  it  must  be  regarded  as 
the  Act  of  the  Nation;  but  they  would  how- 
ever Agree  to  wait  three  Moons  longer,  or 
Untill  Cold  Weather,  &  untill  then  he  would 
be  Answerable  for  it  that  no  Mischief  Should 
be  done  them;  but  if  Satisfaction  was  not 
then  Made  he   would    be  Answerable  no 

After  which  a  general  Conversation  was 
held  upon  the  Subject  of  Some  of  the  Chiefs 
visiting  the  U.  S.  the  Hietan  &  Tawakeno 
Chiefs  say'd  they  were  willing  to  go,  but  they 
Could  not  then,  their  people  were  waiting 
for  them  at  the  Trinity  River  &  they  must 
return  to  them;  but  if  the  Caddo  Chief 
would  fix  On  a  time  and  let  them  know  it  they 
would  Come  &  go  with  him.    The  Caddo 
Chief   had   the   Old   Objection   that   Our 
affairs  with  Spain  were  Still  Unsettled,  & 
in  addition  to  which,  the  difference  with  the 
Chactas  would  prevent  his  leaving  home, 
but  declar'd  his  desire  was  to  go,  &  that  If 

INDIAN    NOTES 

THE    CONCHETTA 

67 

the  Other  Chiefs  were  ready  he  would  go 

"fV»     4-  1»  «.«•*. 

witn  Lflcm. 
The    Caddo    Chief    with    Several    of  his 

Augt  21' 

people  have  been  detain'd  in  Getting  their 

Guns  repair'd.  I  gave  them  as  they  were 

Setting  off  this  day         pounds  of  flour  and 

the  Chief  10  lb  powder  &  20  lb.  Lead. 

[  Page  32]  This  day  William  Rollings  who  I 

1807 

employ'd  to  go  with  a  Message  to  the  Con- 

Septr  1st 

chetta  Village  Near  the  Accokesaws  return'd 

&  reports  that  he  delivered  my  Message  to 

the  Chiefs,  Invided  them  to  come  to  Natchi- 

toches  and  bring  along  with  them  the  Indian 

who  killed  Oneal;  and  told  them  it  was  our 

wish  as  they  well  knew  to  be  in  peace  & 

Amity  with  all   People   &  to  deal  Justly 

with   them.  — 

They    sent    by    Rollings    the   following 

Message  "That  they  were  fully  sensible  of 

Our    goodness    towards    them,    and    were 

'  'greatly  distressed  at  what  had  happened 

"  and  they  would  never  let  go  our  hands  or 

"throw  away  Our  talks;  but  they  had  been 

"sent   for   by    Governor    Cordero   of   S* 

"Antonio,  &  had  promised  to  go  &  See  him, 

"they  did  not  know  for  what;  but  that  they 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

68 

NATCHITOCHES 

Sept*  8" 

"  would  Come  to  Natchitoches  as  soon  as 
"they  return'd  from  S*  Antonio  and  do  their 
"endeavour  to   have  every  thing  Settled; 
'  'but  they  Could  not  then  think  of  giving  up 
''the  Young  Man  who  had  Committed  the 
Murder  the  fact  they  did  not  pretend  to 
deny;  Rollings  Said  that  he  found  the  Village 
On  the  Sabine  nearly  Abandoned,  a  few 

John  Homo  a  Chickesaw  Chief  Arriv'd  with 
about  Thirty  Warriors,    and   Complain'd 
that  the  Conchettas  of  the  upper  Village 
on  Red  River  had  Stolen  from  him  in  Feb- 
ruary last,  on  Red  River  in  the  Country  of 
the  Caddos  Sixty  Shav'd  Deer  Skins,  and 
One  hundred  Unshav'd  Ones,  &  Two  Horses, 
the  whol  Valued  at  two  hundred  dollars, 
he  requested  I  would  Inform  them  that  If 
they  did  not  Return  the  Horses,  and  deliver 
to  me  within  three  Months  as  Many  Skins  of 
equal  Value  that  he  and  his  Warriors  were 
determined  to  take  Satisfaction  of  them,  — 
I  had  receiv'd  a  letter  from  Mr  Treat  of 
Arkensa  Some  time  ago  on  the  Same  Sub- 
ject. John  Homo  and  his  Party  were  going  a 
Trading  &  hunting  voyage  in  to  the  [  Page  33] 

INDIAN   NOTES 

VARIOUS    VISITORS 

69 

Spanish  Country,  I  gave  them  Some  Pro- 
visions &  agreable  to  his  request  a  Certifi- 
cate of  his  having  Notified  to  me  formally  the 

1807 
Septr  26'. 

Octr     14 
15". 

Tuscatoga  the  Chacta  Chief  Arriv'd  with 
whitemeat,  and  a  Number  of  Other  War- 
riors. The  Chief  Inform'd  me  that  in  Con- 
sequence his  brother  Chechemastubby  ,  being 
taken  Sick  he  had  dispatched  Another 
Messenger  to  the  great  Nation  in  his  place, 
for  the  purpose  of  Obtaining  for  the  Caddo 
Chief  the  satisfaction  he  demanded,  and 
had  Particularly  Instructed  him  to  Urge 
the  giving  up  the  Leader  of  the  Party  who 

I  gave  Tuscatoga  6  lb  powder  &  12  Ib  Lead, 
and  the  Sword  that  I  took  away  from 

A  Panic  &  a  Hietan  Indian  Arriv'd  as 
runners  to  give  Notice  that  a  Party  of  each 
Nation  with  their  great  chiefs  were  on  the 

The  Panics  &  Hietans  Arriv'd,  the  Inter- 
preter reported  the  whol  Number  to  be 
Seventy  four,  I  gave  them  Some  Provisions, 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

70 

NATCHITOCHES 

16*h 

18' 

1807 
Octr   18' 

I  entertain'd  the  four  Hietan  Chiefs  at  my 
House  and  made  them  the  following  Pre- 

4  Scarlet  Blankets,  4  Shirts,  4  Hats  & 
Plumes,    4    Braggys,    8°*    Vermilion,    4 

And  at  the  Same  time  to  the  two  Panis 
Chiefs,      2   Shirts,   2   Braggys,   2   Scarlet 
Blankets,    2   Looking   Glasses,    2    Combs, 

Receiv'd   the  whol    Hietan  Party  at  my 
House,  &  Presented  the  Chief  with  a  Medal, 
on  which  was  engrav'd  a  representation  of 
the  Eagle  Encircled  in  the  Words,  "  United 
States  of  America    I  met  them  with  it  Sus- 
pended with  a  Broad  Ribbon  to  my  own 
Neck,  took  it  off  myself  e  hung  it  on  the  Chief, 

[  Page  34  ]   I  made  the  Hietans  the  following 

Presents,  (viz)  for  the  four  Chiefs.    -—    -  • 
4  Stroud  Blankets,  4  White  Ditto,  4  Guns, 
8lb  Powder,   16  lb  Balls,    16  flints,   4  fire 
Steels,  8  Knives,  4  Tomehawk  Pipes,  1  lb 
Vermilion,  4  Braggys,  4  Pieces  of  Binding, 
4  Bells,  4  Tin  Cups,  and  for  seven  great  Men 
of  the  Nation,  7  Blankets,  14  knives,  2lb 

INDIAN   NOTES 

PRESENTS 


71 


Vermilion,  7  Handkfs,  7  Tin  Cups,  7  fire 
Steels,  7  Braggys,  - 
7  Pieces  binding,  &  7  Combs  and  the  follow- 
ing Articles  divided  Amongst  the  remainder 
of  the  party  (viz)— 12  Knives,  10  Hat- 
chets, 10  Pair  Scissors,  llb  Thread,  100 
Needles,  2lb  Vermilion,  2|lb  Beeds,  12 
Blankets,  17  Yards  Callico,  10  flaps,  10 
Handkfs,  2  Pieces  &  6  Yds  Binding— 10 
Looking  Glasses,  10  Combs,  &  2  Tin  Cups. 
I  gave  thePanis  the  following  Presents,  (viz) 
to  the  great  Chief  Called  the  Tawiache 
Chief  who  is  the  first  Man  in  the  Nation,  a 
Medal,  the  Same  as  the  one  I  gave  the  Hie- 
tan  Chief,  One  Handsome  Welted  Philadel- 
phia made  Saddle,  &  a  handsome  Officers 
Uniform  Coat,  and  to  the  Panis  &  Witcheta 
Chiefs  each  of  them  a  Uniform. Coat  and  to 
the  three  Chiefs  3  Guns,  3  Shirts,  9lb 
Powder,  18 lb  Lead,  24  flints,  6  knives,  3 
Tommehawk  Pipes,  1 lb  Vermilion,  3  White 
Blankets,  3  Braggys,  3  Handkfs,  1  Piece 
binding,  3  Tin  Cups,  3  Steels,  3  Bells. 
And  for  the  grand  Chiefs  Son  1  Blanket 
lyd  Callico,  1  knife,  1  Tobacco  Box,  Jlb 
Beeds,  1  Looking  Glass,  &  1  Tin  Cup. 


Octr    25' 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


72 

NATCHITOCHES 

And  for  another  Panis  Chief,  Brother  of  the 

Great  Chief,     1    Gun,    3lb    Powder,    6lb 

Balls,    8    flints,     1     Tommehawk  Pipe,  1 

Handkf,  &  1  Bell— 

1807 

[  Page  35  ]  Gave  to  the  Panis  Party  divided 

A—             r-c.f      f  1     ~   -v-i 

/vmongsc  inem 

1  Gun,  3  Shirts,  33  Blankets,  34  Knives, 

21  fire  Steels.  19  flints   22  Tin   Cups,   4lb 

Vermilion,    3    Pieces    Binding,    30    Small 

Glasses,   34  Braggys  &  flaps,   1   Artilery 

Uniform   Coat    (for   the    Chiefs    brother) 

11  Shawls  &   Handkfs,    13   Pair  Scissors, 

19|  yds  Callico,  1  Bell,  2  Carrots  Tobacco, 

11  Combs,  11  Bunches  Beeds,  11  Hatchets, 

5  Hoes,  and  One  Barrel  Flour,  &  one  Barrel 

Corn    divided   Amongst    them. 

The  following  is  the  Substance  of  a  talk  I 

held  with  the  Hietans  &  Panis,  they  were  all 

Present,    one    of    the    Hietans    Speaking 

tolerable  well  the  Spanish  tongue  the  Con- 

versation with  them  was  in  that  Language, 

the  Indian  said  he  learn'd   it  in  Mexico 

when  he  was  young  where  he  liv'd  several 

years. 

I  told  them  I  was  glad  of  an  Opportunity 

of  being  Acquainted  with  them,  that  we  had 

INDIAN    NOTES 

HIETANS    AND    PANIS 


73 


heard  Much  of  them  that  the  President  of 
the  U.  S.  the  great  Father  of  all  the  red 
people  was  their  friend,  and  all  the  Ameri- 
can people  were  so  to,  &  we  wish  to  be 
Acquainted  with  them  that  we  might  know 
how  we  Could  be  usefull  to  each  Other. 
Should  they  think  proper  to  come  here  to 
trade  they  would  always  be  able  for  Such 
Articles  as  they  would  have  to  dispose  of  to 
procure  what  they  wanted  &  always  receive 
a  kind  &  friendly  reception,  and  that  when- 
ever any  of  our  people  Visited  them,  they 
would  receive  them  as  friends  and  treat 
them  as  we  would  them  when  they  came  to 
See  us.  Advis'd  them  to  Cultivate  Peace 
with  all  Nations,  &  to  Shut  their  ears 
Against  the  Bad  Talk  of  Any  people  who 
might  endeavour  to  make  us  at  enmity  with 
each  Other,  that  I  had  a  few  things  to 
present  them  with,  in  the  Name  of  the 
President  of  the  U.  S.  their  great  father, 
and  requested  that  when  they  return'd  to 
their  friends,  they  would  tell  them  that  we 
took  them  all  by  the  hand,  and  hop'd  to  be 
better  Acquainted  with  each  Other. 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


74 


NATCHITOCHES 


1807 


This  is  the 
Chief  and 
party  the 
same  Hord 
that  Mr. 
Lewis  Saw 
Near  the 
Panis  Na- 
tion, which 
he  believes 
consisted  of 
near  3,000 
souls. 


[Page  36]  The  great  Chief  desir'd  the  Inter- 
preter to  tell  me,  that  "they  had  come  a  long 
"way  to  see  us,  that  from  the  Panis  &  some 
"other  Nations  they  had  heard  we  were  a  good 
"people  and  much  of  us,  that  they  had  Come 
"without  bringing  Anything  to  trade  for  they 
"did  not  know  what  we  wanted  that  they 
"came  Just  to  See  &  Satisfy  themselves  If  it 
"was  true  what  they  had  heard  of  us,  &  he 
"was  glad  to  find  that  it  was  all  true;  but  they 
"found  it  a  great  Journey  quite  too  far  to 
"come  Often,  he  wish'd  we  could  send  some 
"traders  Amongst  them  &  they  should  be 
"well  treated,  that  Horses  &  Mules  were  to 
"them  like  grass  they  had  them  in  Such 
"plenty  they  had  likewise  dress'd  Buffalo 
"Skins  &  knew  where  there  was  Silver  Ore 
"plenty;  but  there  was  A  Nation  of  Bad 
"Indians  (Ozages)  who  gave  them  much 
"trouble  &  vexation;  and  they  were  more 
"formidable  to  them  On  Account  of  their 
"having  Arms  &  they  (the  Hietans)  having 
"None,  &  that  One  Motive  for  their  coming 
here  was  to  see  if  they  Could  get  Arms  he 
was  very  Sorry  they  Could  not  have  Gotten 
a  few  More;  that  some  of  the  Nations  of 


INDIAN    NOTES 


TRADE   INVITED 


75 


Red  people  who  liv'd  Nearer  to  us,  bought 
goods  of  us  &  brought  them  Amongst  them 
to  trade  off  at  a  very  great  profit,  they  would 
demand  of  them  a  Horse  or  a  Mule  for  a 
•Narrow  Strip  of  Scarlet  Cloth,  or  a  Small 
Parcel  of  Vermilion,  he  believ'd  they 
Should  try  to  come  again;  but  Whether 
it  would  be  in  the  Spring  or  later  in  the  Sea- 
son he  could  not  then  tell  they  wanted  to 
try  to  procure  More  Arms  to  Use  in  their 
Own  defence  only,  they  did  not  want  them 
for  killing  their  Meat,  they  could  do  that 
with  the  Spear  or  the  Bow.  Some  Picks 
or  Mattocks  would  likewise  be  Particularly 
Usefull  to  them,  in  Digging  up  Silver  Ore 
[Page  37]  And  making  trenches  round  their 
tents  to  prevent  the  water  from  flowing  in 
upon  them  in  times  of  Heavy  rain;  that  they 
Should  retujn  &  Meet  their  friends  highly 
gratified  with  their  Visit,  &  Carry  Our 
talk  with  them  and  that  in  future  we 
Should  know  one  Another  only  as  friends,  he 
had  heard  of  a  Party  of  their  Nation  having 
lately  Visiting  Us  &  returning  greatly 
pleas'd  but  that,  that  Band  liv'd  farther 


1807 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


76 

NATCHITOCHES 

* 

to  the  South  generally  than  they  did,  they 
did  not  know  Much  of  them. 
I  told  them  if  they  return'd  here  Next 
year  and  brought  plenty  of  Horses,  Mules, 
Buffalo  Robes  &  Silver   Ore,    they  would 
be  able  to  procure  as  Many  Guns,  &  Mat- 
tocks as  they  -wanted,  for  these  things  are 

The  Chiefs  all  express'd  a  desire  to  have 
Such   Coats   as   those   I   gave   the   Panis 
Chiefs,  and  a  United  States  flag;  but  I 

As  the  Hietans  differ  in  Character  &  habits 
from  any  other  Nation  I  have  ever  seen, 
I  will  devote  a  Page  or  two  in  noticing  some 
of  their  Peculiarities;32    They  are  rather 
Barbarians  than  Savages,  as  they  are  dis- 
tinguished by  Doctor  Rush,  they  live  Most 
entirely  upon  the  flesh  of  Wild  Beef  (Buffalo)  . 
they  Plant  Nothing,  Seldome  kill  Deer  oT 
any  other  Game,  Buffalo  excepted,   they 
have  no  Particular  place  of  residence;  but 
when  they  hear  of  a  flock  of  Buffalo,  Strike 
their  Tents*  &  travel  after  them,  &  to  dis- 
cover   them    always    have    reconoitering 

INDIAN    NOTES 

HIETAN    CUSTOMS 

77 

Parties  Out,  they  use  fire  Arms  only  in  War, 
they  kill  the  Buffalo  either  with  the  Spear  or 
the  Bow  &  Arrow,  &  Mostly  with  the  latter, 
they  are  Dexterous  Horsemen,  they  ride  in 
Amongst  a  flock  of  Buffalo  with  their  Bow 
in  their  hand,  Single  Out   the  One    they 
Intend  to  Kill,  ride  Along  side  of  [Page  38] 
him  and  drive  the  Arrow  through  him,  the 
Animal  Bellows,  runs  a  small  distance  and 
falls,  they  Catch  &  drink  the  blood  as  it 
flows,   tear  out  the  Liver  and  eat  it  Raw 
while  it  is  yet  warm,  and  it  is  said  they  eat 
the  Gall  with  it  by  way  of  Condiment,  which 

1807 

They  have  great  Numbers  of  Horses  and 
Mules,  some  of  which  are  Wild  Ones  Caught 
by   them   &   domesticated;   but   they  are 
Mostly    rais'd    by    themselves;    Many  of 
them   are    remarkably   fine    form'd   large 
Animals,   Strongly  Mark'd    with  Arabian 
features;    It  is  impossible  to  form  an  esti- 
mate of  how  Numerous  the  whol  Nation  is, 
that  Can  have  Any  pretention  to  Accuracy; 
they  are   divided  into   Many  Hordes  or 
Bands'  Containing  from  two  to  four  or  five 
thousand    Souls,    they    may    not    exceed 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

78 


NATCHITOCHES 


Thirty  or  forty  thousand  Souls,  and  they 
may  exceed  half  a  Million,  they  wander  over 
an  immence  Space  of  Country,  from  the 
Vicinity  of  S*.  Antonio  to  the  Missouri 
River  from  South  to  North,  .&  from  east 
to  West  from  the  Country  of  the  Panis 
on  Red  River  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  they 
have  Such  Numbers  of  Horses  and  Mules 
which  they  Seldome  Suffer  to  go  Out  of 
sight  of  their  Camps,  they  can  remain  but 
a  few  days  at  the  Same  place,  are  but  Ob- 
lig'd  to  move  to  a  place  of  fresh  pasture; 
every  family  has  a  Tent  of  a  Conic  form 
made  of  dress'd  Buffalo  Skins  and  they  are 
Very  dexterous  in  Pitching  as  well  as 
Striking  them  and  preparing  to  move  when 
the  Word  is  given  they  carry  the  Poles  as 
well  as  the  Tents  always  Along  >with  them 
One  Horse  or  a  Mule  is  alotted  to  Carry 
the  Poles  &  Another  the  Tent.  They 
seem  Subservient  to  the  Commands  of  their 
Chiefs,  who  give  their  Orders  as  though  they 
had  a  right  to  expect  obedience.  The 
trade  of  this  Nation  is  Horses,  Mules, 
dress'd  Buffalo  Skins  &  Silver  Ore  '  Some 
of  the  Men  dress  in  very  handsome  Leather 


INDIAN    NOTES 


HIETAN    CUSTOMS 

79 

hunting  Shirts,  ornamented  with  Beeds  & 
fringe,  Pink'd  &  Scallop'd,  some  of  a  flesh 
Colour,  Others  of  different  [  Page  39]  Shades 
of  Red  and  Purple,  and  nearly  as  Soft  and 
beautifully  dress'd  as  Morocco,  the  Women 
seem  in  the  Most  Abject  &  degraded  State  of 
Servility,  they  Appear  to  be  Constantly  and 
Laboriously  employ'd  In  dressing  Buffalo 
Skins,  Painting  and  Ornamenting  them  with 
a  Variety  of  Colours  &  figures,  making  their 
own  &  their  Husbands  dresses,  Collecting 
feuel,  Attending  Si  guarding  their  Horses 
&  Mules,  in  Cooking,  Making  Leather 
Halters  &  Ropes,  Making  &  repairing  their 
Tents,  &  making  their  riding  &  Pack 

Q^rlrllac  Rrr-  Rrr- 

1807 

The  Married  Women  are  Seldome  Accus'd 
of  Incontinancy  but  If  Convicted  they  are 
Mutilated,  by  Slitting  their  Nose  or  ears, 
they  all  Cut  off  their  Hair  when  Married 
almost  Close  to  their  heads,  and  Plat  it  into 
the  Hair  of  their  husbands,  and  Some  of  the 
Chiefs  who  wear  in  that  manner  the  Hair 
of  Twelve  or  fourteen  Wives  at  the  Same 
time,  are  almost  Covered  Over  with  Plats 
hanging  almost  to  the  ground,  and  so  thick 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

80 

NATCHITOCHES 

1807 

a  top  smear'd  over  with  grease  &  a  redish 
Coloured  Clay  as  a  Substitute  for  Vermilion, 
that  they  Could  Scarsely  wear  a  Hat  of 
Double  the  Ordinary  Size.  I  gave  one  of 
them  a  Handsome  Hat  &  Plume  with  which 
he  was  greatly  pleas'd;  but  he  was  Oblig'd 
to  Wear  his  hat  in  his  hand,  like  an  Euro- 
pean Beau  of  the  last  Century;  the  men  are 
Generally  very  large,  Muscular  and  Some 
of  them  remarkably  fat,  &  I  have  Seen  two 

The  Complexion  of  this  Nation  is  fairer 
than  that  of  Any  Other  of  the  Numerous 
Tribes  I  have  ever  seen.  Many  of  the 
Women  have  light  Brown  or  Auburn  Hair 
&  Blue  or  light  Grey  Eyes,  I  saw  some  that 
were  So  white  I  Suspected  they  were  not 
pure  Hietan  blood,  and  mentioned  my  Sus- 
picions to  a  Chief,  he  said  he  believ'd  they 
possess'd  no  Mixture  of  Blood,  one  of  them 
a  Young  Woman  with  long  light  hair  Over- 
heard the  Conversation;  She  Blush'd  and 
hid  her  face,  the  Chief  apologis'd  for  her,  by 
Saying  she  knew  [Page  40]  What  we  were 
talking  about  and  was  Asham'd  of  her  White 
Skin;  I  saw  some  that  were  married  that  did 

INDIAN    NOTES 

HIETAN    CUSTOMS 


81 


not  appear  to  be  more  than  Eleven  or  twelve 
years  Old,  and  I  understood  it  was  Common 
for  them  to  marry  at  that  Age.  I  saw  one 
who  had  a  Child  that  look'd  like  a  Child 
herselfe,  the  Men  do  not  Marry  so  young  in 
Proportion;  The  Women  generally  wear  a 
long  robe  made  of  dress'd  leather  that 
reaches  from  their  Chin  to  their  feet,  and 
all  that  I  have  seen  of  them  have  a  dirty 
111  appearance.  Neither  Men  nor  Women  are 
in  the  Habit  of  Bathing  like  Other  Indians; 
and  they  seem  indifferent  about  those 
Common  Articles  of  finery  that  Other 
Indians  are  fond  of,  Blue  &  Red  Stroud, 
Vermilion,  Blankets,  Blue  Beeds  &  knives, 
are  almost  the  Only  Articles  they  Seem 
Anxious  to  obtain.  Jewelry,  Callico, 
Handkfs.  Binding,  Ribbands  &c  they  care 
Nothing  about,  they  are  like  all  Other 
Indians  fond  of  Tobacco,  but  will  not  taste 
Ardent  Spirits;  but  are  fond  of  a  Sweet 
drink  made  of  Melasses  or  Honey  &  Water; 
but  were  Afraid  to  drjnk  that  till  I 
Assured  them  it  would  not  make  them 
Drunk,  and  by  drinking  of  it  myselfe 
before  them.  They  all  wanted  Salt  to  eat 


AND    MONOGRAPHSl 


82 


NATCHITOCHES 


1807 
Nov.  10' 


with  their  fresh  Beef,  the  Country  they 
Occupy  abounding  with  Salt  Springs,  they 
are  of  course  accustomed  to  the  Use  of  it. — 
Many  years  ago  I  have  heard  of  their  being 
White  Indians  on  Some  of  the  Head  Waters 
of  the  Missouri,  their  Speaking  the  Welsh 
Language,  &  having  Amongst  them  the 
Welsh  Bible,  is  it  not  probable  the  Allusion 
might  have  been  to  this  Nation?  Their 
Language  is  guttural,  figurative,  &  full  of 
Gesture,  they  Can  hold  long  conversations 
together  by  Sighns  Only.  I  am  not  able  at 
present  to  Say  what  resemblance  their 
Language  Bears  to  the  Welsh,  nor  have  I 
any  information  of  their  having  a  Bible,  And 
Unless  their  Country  abounding  with  Wild 
Goats  is  an  evidence  of  their  Welsh  extrac.- 
tion,  I  know  of  none  they  can  boast  of, 
but  never  heard  of  their  Claiming  that 
honour. 

[Page  41]  Echean33  the  Chief  of  the  upper 
Conchetta  Village  on  Red  River  Arriv'd  with 
a  Party  to  trade  in  the  factory.  I  had  a  long 
Talk  with  him  about  the  Murder  of  Oneal  and 
the  Complaint  of  John  Homo  the  Chickesaw; 
he  believ'd  them  both  to  be  true;  but  had 


INDIAN   NOTES 


THE    CONCHETTAS 


83 


Seen  none  of  the  Conchettas  from  the 
Village  on  the  Sabine  Since  the  Murder 
was  Committed,  he  likewise  had  understood 
that  a  Party  of  hunters  of  his  Village  had 
taken  Some  Skins  belonging  to  the  Chicke- 
saws; but  he  thought  the  Number  was  less 
than  the  Chickesaws  represented,  he  said 
that  Some  Indians  from  the  Village  on  the 
Sabine  had  some  time  Ago  been  to  his 
Village  to  Perswade  them  to  move  off  into 
the  Spanish  Country;  but  they  had  refus'd 
to  listen  to  Any  Such  talk,  he  Appear'd 
much  dissatisfied  with  the  Conduct  of  his 
People,  and  Talk'd  very  rational,  he  said 
they  were  fools  that  they  all  knew  Our 
goodness  to  them,  and  our  power  to  Chas- 
tise them  if  they  behav'd  amiss,  and  that 
Nothing  Should  Change  his  determination 
of  being  always  Governed  by  our  advice  & 
that  he  would  immediately  Send  a  talk  to 
the  Lower  Village  and  Exhort  them  to  Come 
in  here  immediately  &  bring  the  Murderer 
with  them  &  Give  him  up,  and  If  they  would 
not  take  his  advice,  he  would  disown  them 
&  have  no  Connection  with  them,  And 
as  for  the  Affair  of  the  Chickesaws  they 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


84 

NATCHITOCHES 

1807 
Oct.  30th. 

Should  have  Justice  done  them,  their 
Horses  Should  be  restored  to  them  or  as 
good  Ones  given  for  them,  and  he  would 
promise  to  deliver  to  me  the  Skins  they 
demanded,  though  it  was  his  belief  they 
demanded  More  than  they  lost,  but  he  did 
not  think  from  their  hunting  Arangements 
they  they  should  be  Able  to  deliver  them  so 
soon  as  three  Moons;  but  they  should  Cer- 
tainly Come  as  soon  as  they  Could  be 

I  have  ever  had  reason  to  think  well  of 
this  Chief,  he  is  Sensible,  quiet,  &  not 
addicted  to  drunkenness,  made  great  efforts 
to  oblige  Major  Freemas  exploring  party,  & 
is  thought  well  of  by  the  Caddo  Chief,  on 

[  Page  42  ]  In  Consequence  of  Information 
receiv'd  a  few  days  Ago  from  Joseph  Gillard 
esquire,  (viz)  that  Louis  Commonly  called 
Louis  Tensa  the  Appelaches  Chief  had  lately 
return'd  from  the  Spanish  Country  where 
he  had  been  Invited,  and  that  Since  the 
Murder  of  Oneal  by  the  Conchetta  Indian, 
who  are  of  the  Same  Nation,  that  Most  of 
the  Conchettas  had  withdrawn  themselves 

INDIAN   NOTES 

SPANISH   RELATIONS 

85 

into  the  Dominions  of  Spain,  that  they 
bad  been  sending  War  talks  amongst 
Several  of  the  Small  &  friendly  tribes  the 
object  of  which  was  to  procure  a  Union 
Amongst  them  with  Views  Hostile  to  the 

paid  him 
Ten  Dollars 

Nov'   7* 

I  Employ'd  William  Rollings  to  go  to 
the  Appelaches  Village,  to  procure  all  the 
information  he  Could  relative  to  the  above 
reports,  &  bring  up  with  him  Flootka  the 
Principal  Man  of  the  Village  &  two  or  three 
Other  Leading  Characters  In  Order  that 
measures  might  be  taken  to  prevent  any 

William  Rollings  Return'd  &  brought  with 
him  Flootka  Baptiste  his  Son  in  Law  &  the 
Gunstocker,  with  whom  I  had  a  friendly 
Conversation,  I  told  them  what  I  had  heard 
and  of  the  Conversation  I  had  had  with 
Echean,  the  Chief  of  the  upper  Village 
on  the  Same  Subject,  with  his  determina- 
tion, and  my  reasons  for  wishing  to  See 
them.  I  pointed  Out  to  them  the  111 
consequence  of  listening  to  any  bad  talks. 
Flootka  said  "there  was  Some  truth  in 
the  reports  I  had  heard,  Blam'd  Louis 

INDIAN   NOTES 

86 


NATCHITOCHES 


1807. 


Tensa,  &  Accus'd  him  of  Acting  dishonestly, 
that  An  Attempt  had  been  made  to  draw 
them  off  into  the  Dominions  of  Spain,  & 
that  the  Village  had  been  divided  in  Opinion 
about  it,  but  that  Since  Rolling's  arrival 
at  the  Village  with  my  Message  the  Opinion 
was  nearly  Unanimous  Against  it,  that 
they  were  now  more  than  ever  Convinced 
of  Our  friendliness  towards  them  and  that 
for  the  future  I  might  rely  on  it  they  should 
shut  their  ears  Against  all  Such  Talks  from 
Any  quarter  whatever 
[  Page  43  ]  And  place  their  whol  reliance  On 
Us,  that  this  Visit  &  talk  had  given  them  the 
greatest  Satisfaction,  and  ended  with  Assur- 
ances of  their  entire  confidence  in  us,  And 
that  Should  Any  bad  talks  be  brought 
Amongst  them  they  would  immediately 
let  me  know  it.  And  that  they  would  as 
much  as  the  Could  discourage  Spiritous 
Liquors  being  brought  Amongst  them  into 

their  Village. 

I  Gave  them  provisions  while  they  were 
here  and  Sufficient  to  Carry  them  home  & 
the  following  presents  One  Bottle  Brandy, 
Some  Tobacco,  3  III  P*  Blankets,  3  Tomme- 


INDIAN   NOTES 


GIFTS    TO    INDIANS 

87 

hawk  Pipes,  6lb  Powder  and  12  lb  Lead,  & 
they    sat    off    immediately   home    highly 

26." 
Deer  30* 

Paid  three  Dollars  to  a  Negro  for  Tobacco 
I  bought  of  him 
Bought  of  Two  Soldiers  of   Cap*  Wol- 
stincrofts  Company  By  his  Permission  for 
Indians  two  New  Artilery  Coats  for  which 
I  gave  two  II1  Point   Blankets   for  each 
of  them  and  Gave  a  Musician  who  had  a 
permission  to  Sell  a  Coat  four  Dollars  cash 

Received  notice  that  the  Conchettas  were 
On  their  way  to  Natchitoches  on  a  friendly 
Visit  for  the  purpose  of  Settling  all  Exist- 
ing   difficulties,    but    had     convey'd     the 
Murderer  of  Oneal  Away  into  the  Creek 

With 
Very  Great  respect  &  esteem 
Your  Ob*  Hble  Serv* 
JOHN  SIBLEY 
GEN!  HENRY  DEARBORNE 
Secretary  of  War. 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

NATCHITOCHES 


NOTES 

1.  On  the  establishment  of  the  original  fort 
at  Natchitoches,  see:  Martin,  Francois  X. 
History  of  Louisiana,  p.  117;  Butel-Dumont 
G.  M.,  Memoirs  (French's  Historical  Collec- 
tions of  Louisiana,  part  v.  pp.  1-125),  p.  33 
Stoddard,  Amos,  Sketches  Historical  and  Des- 
criptive of  Louisiana,  p.  187;  Cox,  I.  J.,  Loui- 
siana-Texas Frontier  (Texas  State  Historical 
Association  Quarterly,  July,  1906),  p.  9;  Bolton, 
H.  E.,  Athanase  de  Mezieres,  vol.  i,  p.  37; 
Robertson,  J.  A.,  Louisiana  Under  Spain,  France, 
and  the  United  States,  1785-1807,  vol.  n, 
p.  153;  Hodder,  F.  H..  ed.,  Pittman's  Present 
State  of  the  European  Settlements  on  the 
Mississippi,  p.  32. 

2.  Sutton  Vital  Records  to  1850,  p.  154. 

3.  Benedict,  William  A.,  and  Tracy,  Hiram 
A.,  History  of  Sutton,  1704-1876,  pp.  722-723. 

4.  Massachusetts'  Soldiers  and  Sailors  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  vol.  xiy,  p.  194;  Heitman, 
Francis  B.,  Historical  Register  of   Officers  of 
the  Continental  Army,  1775-1783. 

5.  Taylor,    Charles    J.,   History    of    Great 
Barrington,  p.  329. 

6.  This  was  the  year  of  the  change  of  name 
from  Campbelltpwn  to  Fayetteville  (Wheeler, 
John  H.,  Historical  Sketches  of  North  Carolina, 
p.    124).    In   Fayetteville,   Flora  MacDonald 
made  a  brief  residence,  returning  to  her  old 
home  in  Scotland  in  1790. 

7.  Cox,  I.  J.,  Early  Exploration  of  Louisiana, 
p.  37.     Of  Sibley's  attitude  towards  his  first 
wife,  subsequent  to  his  departure  from  Great 
Barrington,  very  little  that  is  more  than  infer- 


INDIAN    NOTES 


NOTES 


ence  has  been  obtainable.  In  the  Jefferson 
Memorial  building  at  St  Louis  are  preserved  by 
the  Missouri  Historical  Society  some  of  the 
papers  of  George  C.  Sibley,  one  of  the  offspring  of 
Sibley  's  New  England  marriage.  In  volume  one 
of  this  collection  is  a  letter  from  John  Sibley  to 
another  son,  Samuel  Hopkins  Sibley.  It  is  dated 
from  Natchez,  February  28, 1803,  and  is  redolent 
of  fatherly  advice.  It  enjoins  on  the  boy  filial 
affection  and  regard  for  his  mother.  Says  the 
absent  father, "...  do  the  best  you  can  .  .  . 
for  yourselfe  and  afford  to  your  Mother  &  the 
children  all  the  assistance  &  comfort  in  your 
power  ..."  In  another  volume,  volume  four, 
is  a  second  letter  from  John  to  Samuel,  breathing 
the  same  sentiments.  It  was  written  from 
Natchitoches,  September  26,  1806.  This  is 
its  conclusion:  "  God  bless  you — be  as  usefull 
as  you  Can  to  your  Mother  &  the  Children  &  I 
will  repay  you  with  Interest  ..."  Accord- 
ing to  Benedict  and  Tracy,  Doctor  Sibley  was 
thrice  married  (History  of  Sutton,  p.  723),  and 
left  several  children.  Writing  to  his  son,  George 
C.,  from  Natchitoches,  October  29,  1821,  he 
indicates  that  he  has  at  the  time,  he  being  then 
sixty-four  years  of  age,  a  daughter  of  six  years, 
one  of  four  years,  and  a  baby  boy  of  nine 
months  (Sibley  MSS.,  vol.  i). 

8.  For  an  exhaustive  account  of  General 
Joseph     Martin,     frontiersman,     see    Weeks, 
Stephen  B.,  General  Joseph  Martin  and  the  War 
of  the  Revolution  in  theWest  (American  Histori- 
cal Association  Report,  1893,  pp.  403-477). 

9.  The  only  scholarly  treatment  of  the  North 
Carolina  Regulators  is  that  of  Professor  John 
Spencer  Bassett.     It    is   based   on  a   critical 


89 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


90 


NATCHITOCHES 


examination  of  The  Colonial  Records  of  North 
Carolina,  and  is  to  be  found  in  American  Histori- 
al  Ass ociation  Report,  1894,  pp.  141-212. 

10.  Cox,  Early  Exploration  of  Louisiana,  p. 
14. 

11.  Sibley  to  Claiborne,  October  10,  1803 
(Jefferson  Papers,  vol.  135). 

12.  Cox,   Early  Exploration   of  Louisiana, 
p.  37. 

13.  War  Department  Octr  17,  1805 
Sir, 

You  will  herewith  receive  your  Commission, 
for  Indian  Agent,  for  that  part  of  the  Territory 
of  Orleans,  West  of  the  River  Mississippi, 
under  which  your  Pay,  at  the  rate  of  $.1000  per 
Annum,  and  your  Subsistence,  at  four  rations 
per  day,  will  commence  on  the  first  of  July 
last.  You  will  consequently  make  up  your 
account  for  actual  services  in  conformity  to  the 
tenor  of  my  letter  to  you,  of  the  13th  of  Decem- 
ber 1804,  until  the  1st  day  of  July  ult,  when 
your  regular  pay  &  subsistence  will  begin,  for 
which  your  Bills  on  this  Deptm*,  drawn  quar- 
terly, will  be  paid. — 

The  Goods,  for  commencing  a  trade  with  the 
Indians  in  that  quarter,  will,  I  hope,  arrive  by 
the  time  this  reaches  you; — and  should  no  Agent 
or  Assistant  arrive,  as  soon  as  the  goods,  I  will 
thank  you  to  have  them  carefully  stored,  in 
safe  keeping,  until  one  of  them  reaches  Natchi- 
toches. 

The  manuscript  volume  was  duly  received,  at 
the  Office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  and  is  con- 
sidered valuable.  I  hope  you  will  have  suc- 
ceeded in  quieting  the  minds  of  the  Indians, 
towards  the  sea  coast;  and  that  you  will  have 


INDIAN   NOTES 


NOTES 


made  proper  impressions  on  them  in  the  vicinity 
of  St.  Barnard. — 

It  is  the  wish  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States  that  you  should  encourage  a  few  of  the 
Principal  Chiefs  of  some  of  the  considerable 
Tribes  or  Nations  to  make  a  visit  to  the  seat  of 
Government;  and,  if  practicable,  to  induce  the 
Great  Chief  of  the  Caddos  to  be  of  the  party — A 
passport  is  herewith  enclosed  for  them.  You 
will  fill  up  the  Blank  with  the  names  of  the 
Chiefs  who  may  be  selected  to  form  the  deputa- 
tion. The  expense  should  not  be  extended  be- 
yond what  may  be  found  absolutely  necessary. 
The  route  you  propose  will  probably  be  the  best. 
Perhaps  a  passage  in  the  stage  from  Augusta  in 
Georgia  to  this  place  may  be  found  practicable 
and  convenient.  In  such  case  their  horses  may 
be  left  in  Georgia  until  their  return.  It  will 
be  advisable  for  you  to  accompany  the  deputa- 
tion. We  shall  take  measures  for  rendering 
their  passage  through  the  Indian  Country,  East 
of  the  Mississippi,  safe  and  free  from  any  bicker- 
ings with  the  Indians  through  whose  territory 
they  may  pass. — I  wish  you  to  continue  to 
fonvard  every  kind  of  information  relative  to 
the  Indians  &  our  other  neighbors  in  that  quarter. 

I  presume  your  Son  is,  by  this  time,  near  his 
post,  as  Assistant  Agent  to  the  Facty  at  St. 
Louis. 

I  am  Sir  &c, 

(Office  of  Indian  Affairs,  Letter  Book  B, 
pp.  122-123.) 

The  manuscript  volume  to  which  reference  is 
made  in  the  foregoing  was  undoubtedly  the  same 
as  that  which,  in  a  letter  to  Jefferson  of  date 


91 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


92 


NATCHITOCHES 


August  9,  1805  (Jefferson  Papers,  vol.  151), 
Sibley  spoke  of  as  the  copy  of  an  old  French 
manuscript  which  he  intended  to  send  to  Madi- 
son. In  a  letter  to  J.  S.  Johnston  (idem.  vol. 
228) ,  Jefferson  later  credited  Sibley  with  having 
obtained  for  him  De  la  Harpe's  Journal.  The 
references  in  the  various  letters  are  probably  all 
to  the  same  thing.  See  Gayarr6,  Charles, 
History  of  Louisiana,  American  Domination, 
p. 111. 

The  "Son"  of  Doctor  Sibley 's  to  whom 
Dearborn  refers  was  doubtless  George  C. 
Sibley,  one  of  the  children  born  at  Great 
Barrington  (Taylor,  History  of  Great  Barring- 
ton,  p.  329),  the  same  who  was  for  so  long  in 
official  charge  at  Fort  Osage. 

14.  Note  particularly  the  letter  to  Claiborne 
of  date  October  10,  1803,  in  which  Sibley  pro- 
fessed a  minute  knowledge  of  the  rivers  between 
the  Mississippi  and  the  Grand,  or  Neosho. 

15.  American  State  Papers,  Indian  Affairs, 
vol.  i,  pp.  721-725. 

16.  Idem,  pp.  725-731. 

17.  Cox  seems  to  be  of  the  opinion  that  any 
testimony  furnished  by  Grappe,  the  interpreter, 
might  well  be  vitiated  since  he  was  in  the  pay  of 
Spain  (Early  Exploration  of  Louisiana,  p.  52). 

18.  Another  supplement  might  be  taken  to 
be  the  subjoined  article  which  in  the  form  of  a 
newspaper  clipping  was  found  pasted  on  the 
front  inside  cover  of  Indian  Trade  Letter  Book, 
no.  E  (1818-1820). 


INDIAN    NOTES 


NOTES 

93 

TEXAS   INDIANS. 

The     Cincinnati  Gazette,  received  by    this 

morning's  mail,  contains  the  following  interest- 

ing statistical  article  on  the  Aborigines  of  Texas, 

written  by  an  Indian  agent  lately  resident  at 

Natchitoches  :  if  the  information  be  correct,  and 

we  presume  it  is  predicated  on  a  data  entitled 

to  credit,  it  must  at  this  time  be  acceptable  to  our 

readers,  especially  as  this  province,  bordering 

our  frontiers,  has  formed  a  prominent  topic  in 

the  late  Florida  negotiation.     It  will  be  seen 

the  total  Indian  population  is  here  estimated  at 

25,260,    from    amongst    which,    supposing    a 

junction  to  take  place,  upwards  of  4,000  warriors 

might  take  the  field. 

Memorandum  of  Indian   Tribes  inhabiting  the 

Province  of  Texas. 

Comancheesorl-etans  —  total  population  12  to 

14,000;  number  of  warriors  23  to  2500.     This 

nation  is  divided  into  three  parties  or  tribes,  to 

wit  :     Comanchees,  Yamparacks  and  Tenaways  ; 

are  altogether  erratic,  range  from   the  head 

waters  of  the  Red  river  of  Natchitoches  to  the 

Colorado  of  Texas;  subsist  for  the  most  part  on 

Buff  aloe;  are  at  war  with  the  Spaniards,  the 

Osage  and  the  Tonkawas  Indians;  abound  in 

mules  and  horses. 

Lapans  —  population  12  to  1300;  number  of 

warriors  200  to  250;  these  are  also  erratic  but 

more  confined  in  their  migrations;  are  generally 

to  be  found  between  the  Yano  or  Prairie  Bayou 

and  the  St.  Savas,  two  tributary  streams  of  the 

Colorado;  are  at  war  with  the  Spaniards;  warmly 

AND    MONOGRAPHS 

94 


NATCHITOCHES 


attached  to  the  Americans,  and  extremely 
anxious  to  come  under  their  protection;  are  a 
shrewd  and  comparatively  an  enlightened 
people  and  remarkably  honest. 

Whacoes — population  350  to  400,  number  of 
warriors  70  to  80;  live  on  the  river  Brasos; 
build  their  huts  of  coarse  grass  in  form  of  a  cone ; 
occupying  a  beautiful  and  fertile  prairie; 
raise  corn,  beans,  and  melons;  are  a  treacherous 
and  cowardly  people;  sometimes  join  the  Coman- 
chees  in  their  predatory  excursions  against  the 
Spaniards;  are  connected  with  several  other 
tribes,  viz.  Touwackanies,  Towe-ash,  and 
Witchetaws;  excessively  prone  to  stealing. 

Touwackanies — population  230  to  250;  war- 
riors 50  to  60;  live  at  a  beautiful  spring  of 
water  which  discharges  into  the  river  Trinity 
From  the  west  side;  are  essentially  the  same  as 
the  Whacoes. 

Towe-ash  and  Whitchetaws— These,  it  is  prob- 
able will  come  within  the  United  States  by  the 
ate  Spanish  treaty;  live  on  Red  river  about 
1200  miles  above  Natchitoches;  occupy  each 
sank,  vis  a  vis,  are  the  same  people;  population 
of  each  village  from  5  to  600;  number  of  warriors 
100  to  120;  they  cultivate  the  earth,  but  fre- 
quently abandon  their  hamlets  in  the  winter  and 
pursue  the  Buffaloe. 

Tonkawas — population  15  to  1600;  warriors 
350;  these  are  erratic;  live  between  the  Brasos 
and  the  Colorado,  in  and  about  the  latitude  of 
St.  Antonio;  are  friendly  with  the  Spaniards, 
and  at  war  with  their  Indian  enemies,  are  more 
warlike  than  their  neighbours  generally;  use 
rifles;  are  remarkable  for  their  horsemanship. 


INDIAN   NOTES 


NOTES 


Carrankawas — these  are  emphatically  canni- 
bals; population  from  650  to  700;  warriors  150; 
they  occupy  the  mouths  of  the  Brasos  and  of  the 
beautiful  bayou  Los  Euros,  and  the  intervening 
country;  they  are  almost  as  numerous,  and  de- 
rive from  the  numerous  little  water  courses 
which  intersect  the  low  lands  they  inhabit,  an 
almost  impenetrable  fastness;  they  are  friendly 
with  the  Spaniards  from  whom  they  obtain  some 
scanty  but  necessary  supplies,  and  hostile  to 
all  other  human  beings;  are  cowardly,  treach- 
erous and  cruel,  and  invariably  EAT  their 
prisoners;  are  large  men  and  of  light  complex- 
ions; a  poor  and  miserable  race;  subsist  mostly 
on  alligators;  build  their  huts  of  deer  skins. 

Kitchies — population  130  to  150;  warriors  35 
to  40;  live  on  a  small  branch  of  the  river  Trinity; 
raise  corn,  &c.;  are  roguish  set  but 

prodigious  cowards. 

Caddos — population  5  to  600;  warriors  120; 
live  on  Red  river  near  the  state  line  of  Lousiana; 
the  treaty  line  will  divide  their  lands;  they  are  a 
warlike  people,  descended  from  a  nation  origi- 
nally called  Texas,  but  this  name  by  means  of 
numerous  ramifications  has  lost  its  ancient  pre- 
eminence. The  five  following  tribes  are  of  the 
same  origin:  Anadauquas,  Nacadochetes,  St. 
Pedros,  Nabadachoes,  and  Texas,  these,  to- 
gether with  several  other  small  tribes  of  the  pro- 
vince, are  under  the  uncontrolled  influence  of 
the  Caddo  chief,  who  is  a  remarkably  shrewd  and 
sensible  fellow;  he  has  been  much  caressed  by  the 
agency  at  Natchitoches,  but  still  retains  strong 
Spanish  predilections;  he  could  probably  com- 
mand 500  warriors;  but  his  tributaries  are  less 
warlike  than  his  own  people. 


95 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


96 


NATCHITOCHE  S 


Anadauquas — population  120  to  130;  war- 
riors 30;  live  on  the  Angaline  about  50  miles 
N.  W.  from  Nacogdoches. 

Nacadochetes — population  150;  warriors  40; 
live  on  the  Angaline  about  60  miles  from  Nacog- 
doches. 

St.  Pedros — population  130;  warriors  30; 
live  on  Netches,  40  miles  W.  from  Nacogdoches. 

Naradachoes — population  100;  warriors  20; 
live  near  St.  Pedros. 

Texas — population  150;  warriors  30;  live  on 
Netches,  45  miles  from  Nocogdoches.  The 
five  preceding  tribes  are  essentially  the  same 
people;  live  some  in  log  and  some  in  grass  built 
cabins;  are  generally  roguish  and  cowardly. 

Eyish — this  is  a  remnant  of  a  tribe,  consist- 
ing of  not  more  than  50  souls,  who  are  scattered 
amongst  and  intermarried  with  the  neighbour- 
ing tribes. 

Bidies — population  175  to  180;  warriors  40 
to  50;  live  on  the  river  Trinity,  about  40  miles 
below  St.  Antonio  road;  these  are  a  peculiar 
people;  speak  a  language  different  from  all  their 
neighbors;  their  origin  is  not  known;  they  inter- 
marry with  the  Conshattes  and  are  under  their 
control. 

Eynies — these  are  dispersed  and  intermingled 
with  other  tribes  of  the  vicinity. 

Baluxes — population  100;  warriors  25;  live 
on  a  branch  of  the  Netches,  40  miles  S.  of 
Nacogeoches;  are  a  peaceable  and  harmless 
people. 

Conshattes — population  350;  warriors  80; 
live  on  Trinity,  120  miles  S.  of  Nacogdoches; 
trade  to  St.  Antonio  and  to  Galveston;  are  a 
brave  and  enterprising  people;  descended  from 


INDIAN    NOTES 


NOTES 


the  Creeks;  migrated  to  their  present  abode 
about  the  period  of  the  American  revolution;  are 
hospitable  and  friendly  to  Americans. 

Aalabamas — population,  320;  warriors,  75; 
live  on  waters  of  Netches,  40  miles  above  its 
mouth,  descended  from  the  Creeks,  are  similar 
in  all  respects  to  their  brethren  the  Cpnshattes; 
being  more  contiguous  to,  they  sometimes  trade 
to  Nachitoches — both  these  tribes  are  much 
attached  to  the  Americans. 

Kaways — This  is  a  people  with  whom  I  am 
acquainted  only  by  information  derived  from  the 
Comanches  and  some  few  traders  who  have 
seen  large  parties  of  them;  their  summer  resi- 
dence is  probably  in  high  northern  latitudes  in- 
asmuch as  they  trade  with  the  British  North 
Western  Company;  they  descend  into  the 
country  occupied  by  the  Yamparacks  and  Tena- 
ways  in  the  winter,  allured  perhaps  by  the 
Buffaloe  and  the  greater  mildness  of  the  climate; 
there  are  probably  2000  souls  of  this  tribe. 

Seraticks^- this  tribe,  like  the  preceding  one, 
migrates  from  the  north  in  the  fall  season — they 
are  connected  with  and  speak  the  same  language 
as  the  Lapans— have  probably  1800  to  200[0] 
souls. 

19.  See  the  personal  letter  from  the  Auditor 
to  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Septem- 
ber 16,  1905,  which  is  attached  to  the  document 
itself. 

20.  Indian  vocabularies  were  the  major  part 
of  the  materials  furnished  Jefferson  by  Sibley 
(Jefferson  to  J.  S.  Johnston,  op.  cit.)  and  regu- 
lar vocabulary  blanks  were  forwarded  to  him 
from     Washington     (Jefferson     to     Claiborne, 
May    26,    1805,    Jefferson    Papers,    vol.    150; 


97 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


NATCHITOCHES 


Sibley  to  Jefferson,  August  9,  1805,  idem, 
vol.  151).  By  the  end  of  the  summer  of  1805, 
only  the  Caddo  vocabulary  had  been  collected; 
but  hopes  were  entertained  by  the  indefatigable 
Sibley  that  others  would  soon  be  forthcoming. 
"  Caddo,"  said  he,  "is  esteemed  the  most 
antient  language  and  now  used  by  all  the  smaller 
tribes."  (Sibley  to  Jefferson,  August  27,  1805, 
idem,  vol.  152).  Perhaps  it  was,  as  Professor 
Cox  asserts,  his  "exuberant  imagination"  that 
led  him  to  make  many  untrustworthy  state- 
ments. His  conclusions  were  often  very  hastily 
reached  and  many  are  the  instances  of  his  form- 
ing erroneous  opinions.  Thus  he  informed 
Jefferson  that  from  the  best  account  he  could 
obtain  he  had  decided  that  the  "Cances  language 
is  spoken  by  the  Indians  on  the  waters  that  fall 
into  the  Western  Ocean. "  Towards  the  middle 
of  December,  1805,  Sibley  sent  to  Washington 
the  vocabulary  of  the  Natchitoches  language 
(Sibley  to  Jefferson,  December  14,  1805,  idem, 
vol.  154). 

21.  Presumably,  the  John  S.  Lewis  of  later 
mention  in  the  journal. 

22.  Thomas  Freeman.     For  an  account  of 
his  expedition  up  the  Red  river  in  1806  and  of 
the    manuscript    journal    describing    it,    see 
Thwaites,  R.  G.,  Early  Western  Travels,  vol. 
xvn,  pp.  61,  66,  et  seq.    It  was  the  third  of  the 
notable  series  planned  by  Jefferson,  a  series  of 
which  the  Lewis  and  Clark:  Up  the  Missouri  and 
Beyond,  and  the  Dunbar:  Up  the  Wachita,  were 
respectively    the    first    and    second.    Of    his 
wonderful  exploring  plans,  Jefferson  had  this  to 
say:    "We  shall  delineate  with  correctness  the 
great  arteries  of  this  great  country;  those  who 


INDIAN    NOTES 


NOTES 


come  after  us  will  extend  the  ramifications  as 
they  become  acquainted  with  them,  and  fill  up 
the  canvas  we  begin. "  (Jefferson  to  Dunbar, 
May  25,  1805,  Jefferson  Papers,  vol.  150)  The 
original  idea  was  that  the  party  that  went  up 
the  Red  river  should  come  down  the  Arkansas 
(Jefferson  to  Claiborne,  May  26,  1805,  Jefferson 
Papers,  vol.150) ;  but  the  presence  of  the  seceding 
Osages  on  the  latter  stream  and  the  difficulty  of 
transferring  baggage  from  one  stream  to  another 
forced  a  return  by  the  Red  (Jefferson  to  Dunbar, 
May  25, 1805,  idem).  Of  the  Freeman  expedi-- 
tion  of  1806,  Cox  declares  that  it  was  "the  last 
formal  expedition  until  13  years  had  passed." 
(The  Exploration  of  the  Lousiana  Frontier, 
1803-1806,  American  -Historical  Association 
Report,  1904,  p.  174). 

23.  Thomas  Linnard.    Apparently  William 
Reibelt  had  been  selected  for  the  post;  but  his 
long  delay  in  starting  for  Natchitoches  had 
made   it  Dearborn's    "indispensible   duty    to 
rely  no  longer"  on  him  "and  to  make  another 
appointment. "(Jefferson    to    William    Reibelt, 
February  3,  1807,  Jefferson  Papers,  vol.  164). 
Linnard  had,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  had  charge  of 
the  factory  at  Natchitoches  "since  its  estab- 
lishment."    (See  Letter  of  Dearborn's,  Feb- 
ruary 2,  1807).    Jefferson  expressed  the  hope 
that  Claiborne  would  be  able  to  get  Reibelt 
something  better  than  an  Indian  factory. 

24.  For  the  general  location  of  the  Caddo 
country,    see   map    compiled   by   Herbert    E. 
Bolton,  entitled,  "Map  of  Texas  and  Adjacent 
Regions  in  the  Eighteenth  Century"  (Univer- 
sity of  California  Map  Series,  no.  2). 


99 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


100 


NATCHITOCHES 


25.  The   Indian's   conception   of   the   ade- 
quacy of  a  pecuniary  indemnity  for  a  blood  loss 
is  so  nearly  identical  with  the  wergcld  of  the 
early  Germans  that  it  seems  not  out  of  place 
to   remark   here   on   the  many   resemblances 
between  the  customs  of  the  North  American 
aborigines  and    those    of  which    Tacitus    so 
elaborately  discoursed  in  his  famous  Germania. 
Compare,  for  example,  the  early  German  love  of 
gambling   with   the   Indian   devotion   to   ball- 
playing  as  detailed  on  p.  11. 

26.  More  correctly  "strouding",  a  kind  of 
coarse  blanketing  that  was  much  used  in  the 
Indian  trade. 

27.  A  roll  of  tobacco,  "formed  by  placing  the 
moist  prepared  leaves  together  in  large  handfuls, 
and  winding  about  them  grasses  or  strips  of 
fibrous  wood  ..."     (Century  Dictionary). 

28.  Probably  intended  for  "bragas." 

29.  Zebulon  Pike,  who,  according  to  his  own 
account,   was   then   at   San   Antonio    (Coues, 
Elliott.    The  Expeditions  of  Zebulon  Mont- 
gomery Pike,  vol.  n,  p.  698).  • 

30.  This  bears  out  what  Hulbert  affirms  that 
the  trading-path  was  always  kept  distinct  from 
the  war-path. 

31.  Three  days  subsequent  to  the  making  of 
this  entry,  Dr  Sibley  wrote  as  follows  to  his  son, 
Samuel  Hopkins  Sibley: 

"...  My  prospect  of  coming  to  Carolina 
is  now  less  than  it  was,  the  Indian  Chiefs  will 
not  consent  to  come  with  me,  till  our  affairs 
with  Spain  are  settled,  that  they  may  have  the 
extent  of  the  rightful  jurisdiction  of  each  govern- 
ment, but  they  will  come  as  soon  as  that  is  done. 
I  have  lately  had  considerable  difficulty  with 


INDIAN    NOTES 


NOTES 


some  of  my  Indians,  two  white  men  killed  two 
Indians  of  different  tribes  and  made  their 
Escape,  an  Indian  has  killed  a  white  man  &  fled 
to  the  Spaniards,  a  party  of  Indians  killed  two 
women  of  a  tribe  at  peace  with  them,  it  has 
given  me  much  trouble  to  prevent  them  from 
going  to  war,  they  were  at  war,  I  made  them 
make  peace  or  rather  made  peace  for  them. 

"I  am  informed  (though  not  officially)  that 
Governor  Claiborne  the  Governor  of  this 
Territory  is  removed  &  Daniel  Clark  (whom  I 
enclosed  you  a  letter  to)  is  appointed  in  his 
place,  they  are  I  believe  both  of  them  per- 
sonally my  friends,  though  I  have  openly  dis- 
approved of  some  parts  of  Gov.  Claibornes 
administration,  he  has  become  extremely  un- 
popular in  this  Territory  except  amongst  a 
party  of  small  number,  his  removal  is  certainly 
a  wise  executive  measure.  General  Wilkinsons 
name  is  made  a  free  use  of  through  this  country 
&  on  all  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi.  I 
should  think  the  same  reasons  would  urge  the 
Executive  to  dismiss  him  that  operated  to  the 
dismissal  of  General  Claiborne,  who  I  still 
think  an  Honest  man,  a  different  opinion  is 
expressed  by  many,  with  respect  to  the  General, 
I  was  always  more  enclined  to  laugh  at  the  fuss 
that  both  of  them  made  about  Col.  Bur  than 
to  feel  serious  alarms. 

"...  Capt  Pike,  Doctor  Robinson  & 
Party  arrived  here  this  day  from  the  interior  of 
New  Spain  .  .  . 

"I  have  lately  had  much  trouble  amongst 
my  Indians.  Some  white  men  have  killed 
Indians,  &  they  have  retaliated.  Some  tribes 
of  Indians  have  been  committing  depredations 


101 


AND    MONOGRAPHS 


.102 

NATCHITOCHES 

on  others  in  my  agency.    My  business   is   to 

keep  them  all  at  peace  and  with  the  white 

inhabitants  —  there   are  bad  men  amongst  all 

people  red  as  well  as  white  that  no  laws  can 

restrain."     (John  Sibley  to  Samuel  H.  Sibley, 

dated  Natchitoches,  June  30,  1807,  Sibley  MSS.) 

There  is  a  slight  discrepancy  in  date  between 

Sibley  's  record  and  Pike's.*    According  to  the 

the  latter,  the  arrival  of  Pike  and  Robinson  at 

Natchitoches  occurred  on  July  first  (Coues,  The 

Expeditions    of    Zebulon    Montgomery    Pike, 

vol.  IT,  pp.  712-715). 

32.  This  account  of  the  Hietans,   or   Co- 

manches,  is  much  fuller  than  that  in  the  His- 

torical    Sketches     (American     State     Papers, 

Indian  Affairs,  vol.  i,  pp.  723-724).     Stoddard, 

in  Sketches  of  Louisiana,  p.  486,  mentions  the 

visit  made  by  the  Hietans  to  Natchitoches  in 

1807.    He  says,  however,  that  they  were  "  clean- 

ly in  their  persons  and  dress,  particularly  in 

their  cookery     .     .     ."  which  seems  scarcely 

consonant  with  the  infrequency  of  bathing  to 

which  Sibley  refers. 

32.  See  the  facsmile  of  Sibley's  notes,  pi.  I, 

A-C. 

INDIAN   NOTES 

SIBLEY— NATCHITOCHES 


o 


' 


FACSIMILE  OF  NOT^S  BY  SIBLEY  ON  THE  HIETAN  OR  COMANCHE. 
APPENDED  TO  HIS  JOURNAL 


SIBLEY—  NATCHITOCHES 


»Ut  VuvJ*~\ 


NOTES  BY  SIBLEY— CONTINUED 


SIBLEY  —  NATCHITOCHES 


U«S 


'i 


NOTES  BY  SIBLEY—  CONCLUDED 


